Used PS Audio BHK 300 monoblock or (2) new benchmark ahb2 bridged?


Would appreciate opinions - thanks in advance

listen to rock, jazz, classical at normal levels but appreciate headroom for transients

Listen to vinyl and computer-based files equally

basis 2200, transfiguration phoenix, bryston bda-3, PS audio stellar phono pre, Red Rose Revelation 1 tower speakers, 14x20 room

richardnyc

Showing 3 responses by donavabdear

PS Audio BHK 300s are really musical as well as the BHK Preamp, when I change any of these components my system it looses all its magic, the PS Audio components are noisy and it drives me crazy but no other amps or preamps make me so happy. The BHK line hits way above its weight much more expensive amps don't have the smoothness. If you listened to industrial music they wouldn't be the amps for you but you can't beat them for the music you do listen to.

 

Hiss the dreaded monster the PS Audio BHK preamp (I've had 3 of them) is not as quiet as my other preamps like the Lyngdorf 60 (theater controller) or any of the solid state preamps I've had but I like the BHK preamp better than the rest because it make the music sound better, probably is the tubes.

@curiousjim Thanks for the note, I've had 3 BHK preamps and love them because they sound great, the problem is I have Paradigm 9h speakers that are hybrid they have amplified low frequency built in and the mid and high frequency are beryllium so the speakers are very efficient. Because of that speaker efficiency the self noise of any preamplifier is very evident. I changed to boutique tubes, changed cables, moved cables many times, bought 2x P-20 power reconditions ( $20k), other passive noise removers, had home run power circuits put in my listening room, turned out I got 2x bad BHKs and PS Audio finally simply gave me a new one. Now there is no extra noise but there definitely is more noise than my other solid state preamps like my lyngdorf 60 or the PS audio DAC mk 2 or the Hifi Rose streamer. BHK preamps with the BHK 300 sound quieter with less efficient speakers if you are OCD about hiss, which I'm guilty, but the BHK lines definitely work wonderfully together musically.