Hi…I’m new to this forum and would like to seek an advice or any experiences that can be shared for me to decide which is the best equipment for my system.
Between BHK 250 vs BHK 300, which one do you guys prefer? Yeah, one’s is stereo and the other one is mono. But in terms of money spend, which one would give a significant best of the sound out of the options below
The power amp will be paired with BHK preamp and Goldenear Triton One speakers. Here’s an option:
BHK 250 + BHK Preamp + Goldenear Triton One + P10 Power Plant
2)BHK 300 + BHK Preamp + Goldenear Triton One + Cheapo Furman Power Conditioning
Budget wise, i’m ok with one of the options above but cannot go for BHK300 + P10 all in one setup.
I know it’s kinda subjective and demo the equipment would be the best way. But feel free to share your experience, comments or thoughts.
I have a BHK 250 and had a pair of Triton 1s. They sound very good! Hopefully, you get feedback from people who have actually heard the systems you reference.
Go for the 300’s. Get an electrician to install one, or better still two dedicated circuits for your hifi. The P10 (or coming, the P20) will then be icing on the cake if you feel you need it or when funds allow.
Quote from the “Details” section of the BHK Signature 250 Amplifier…The results are hard to put into words. The BHK Signature 300 is a clear step above the stereo 250, on the order of 20% better, though both have the same character of sound. Both the Stereo 250 and Mono 300 are one of the best performing, musical sounding amplifiers ever made. Imagine your delight listening to either.
For what it is worth, Sandy Gross, the owner of GoldenEar—the company that makes your Triton speakers—has this exact setup in his home for his reference. 300s and a BHK preamp. Awesome combination. I too would go for that combo and just wait on the power conditioning until you can eventually get a P10.
I was thinking about new speakers, and the Triton Ones are on my list. These speakers have powered subwoofers built in and are very efficient, so I wonder if the BHK 250 I own wouldn’t be sufficient. (But who am I to argue with Mr. Gross?) I also wonder if a P10 would have enough juice to drive both the Tritons and my BHK.
@den. Quite simply if you have the necessary funds then buy the BHK 300s. Buy the P10 when funds permit… You won’t regret the decision to pull the trigger… In my main system I use a BHK preamp, 250 & 300 amplifiers. The 250 is a wonderfully musical amplifier - but the 300 amplifiers are considerably better amplifiers.
Previously - in my main system I used Constellation Altair & Hercules amplifiers - which I have since sold on - the BHKs being more musically engaging…
The Constellation amplifiers are regarded as the pinnacle of amplifier perfection, machined from solid billets with flowing curves and their bee-hive side panels… And they cost a kings ransom !! They certainly looked like works of Art - but after a short period of time they look kinda - anodyne, big lumps of grey alloy… When I first heard the BHK 250 I thought it was excellent, very musical - but if that was all P S Audio had to offer I wouldn’t have moved from the Constellation amplifiers: then, I heard the BHK 300s, the 300s hit a nerve within me and I had to hear them for a longer period of time. After living with the 300s I heard a level musicality and an engagement from the performance that I wasn’t hearing or feeling to the same degree with the Constellation amplifiers…
Trying to put some perspective on this: The Constellation amplifiers are exceptional, absolutely incredible amplifiers. There isn’t a massive chasm between the Constellation Altair / Hercules and the BHK Preamp / BHK 300s in sound quality…but, as far I am concerned, the most important element is engagement, getting lost in the beauty of music and drawn into the performance… At this level the electronic equipment should leave no sonic imprint on the music … The BHK’s achieved this … Now taking into consideration the price of the BHK and Constellation amplifiers … At the very pinnacle of amplifier perfection, the BHK amplifiers are quite simply the bargain of the century…
I was thinking about new speakers, and the Triton Ones are on my list. These speakers have powered subwoofers built in and are very efficient, so I wonder if the BHK 250 I own wouldn’t be sufficient. (But who am I to argue with Mr. Gross?) I also wonder if a P10 would have enough juice to drive both the Tritons and my BHK.
Yes, a P10 would power the 250 and the Triton’s subwoofers just fine.
Wow! didn’t know that there is a significant leap between BHK 250 and BHK 300. Initially, i was thinking on going for BHK 250 + P10, considering the cost and the speaker i’m using.
But looking at the majority, based on the user’s experience and advice… i think i might go for 300’s with the cheapo furman power conditioner for the start and grow from there.
But looking at the majority, based on the user’s experience and advice… i think i might go for 300’s with the cheapo furman power conditioner for the start and grow from there…
Or...
Skip buying a new Furman and get a jump on your P10 savings fund by plugging the amps directly into the wall.
I’d echo that. Grab the BHK 300s without thinking about it… we moved our system to the BHK 300s about 6 weeks ago now and they are absolutely bliss. The BHKs have their own toroids so adding another from a Furman buys you very little IMHO.
We use the BHKs as part of a larger system to evaluate Teo liquid inter-connects and find the amps to be incredibly accurate. We use EquiTech, Torus and Bybee for power treatment… The EquiTech feeds the BHK 300s, the Torus feeds the Bybee which feeds the Audio Valve Eklipse pre-amp, Meitner DAC and linear power supply for the Mac mini… see photo.
Let us know what you do in the end… and what you think of the BHK 300s!
Does the cheapo Furman feature as a balanced power conditioner - utilizing big toroid(s) ? If so, I once tried a well reviewed balanced power conditioner a few years back, and honestly, it killed the music stone dead… And this wasn’t a cheapo unit… It just simply couldn’t keep up the demands placed on it by the power amplifiers linear power supply !! I then plugged the big power amplifier straight into the wall socket - in that instant - I recovered all of the music’s dynamics and color which had all but disappeared when plugged into the balanced power supply…
My advice: Forget about any type of power conditioning until you can finance the P10… When you plug the BHK-300s into the wall sockets and hear the 300’s special magic - your thoughts will only be how incredible the amplifiers perform…
You really want to hear the BHK 300’s at their most revealing and not compromised by a “cheapo” power conditioner strangling the dynamics and compromising musicality…
@frank7036 Nope, i don’t have it at the moment…will look into it
@Dirk i would say its a small to medium sized toroid, way smaller compared to P5, yup…think it’s better to go for P10 when fund permits.
Has anyone tried “Dectet Power Center” connecting to BHK amps?
From PS Audio web…
“The High Current IsoZone of the Dectet provides two outlets designed specifically to handle even the biggest power amplifiers, sub woofers, receivers or even large screen televisions.”
I know its nowhere near P5/P10…just wondering how does it compare to direct connect to wall socket.
As frank7036 said, why not install dedicated power lines for your system and just leave it at that in the short term. Of course you could also try the Detect Power Centre … ( It doesn’t cost much in the great scheme to install a dedicated mains supply and it is most beneficial …I too have a dedicated mains supplies ) Honestly - the introduction of the BHK-300s will be so vast and musically rewarding you should be ‘very’ content ! Then when you can afford a P10 it will be another significant upgrade… No need to waste money on other makes of power conditioners, etc…!
In terms of speaker cable, i had narrowed down and it’s between Audioquest Oak vs MG Planus III. Does anybody here have an experience with pairing it with BHK’s and Goldenear Triton One ?
Since PS Audio had used both speaker cable for their demos, maybe Paul can chime a bit on this, plus other members of this forum.
You should also consider the Belden Iconoclast cables. There’s a lot of comparisons to the cables already in the thread on this site. I know Paul loves his MG’s as well.
You should also consider the Belden Iconoclast cables. There’s a lot of comparisons to the cables already in the thread on this site. I know Paul loves his MG’s as well.
+1. I have both MG Planus AG2 and ICONOCLAST cables. Can’t pretend to have tried them with all equipment. But for what I have, the ICONOCLAST is better across the board.
In terms of speaker cable, i had narrowed down and it’s between Audioquest Oak vs MG Planus III. Does anybody here have an experience with pairing it with BHK’s and Goldenear Triton One ?
Since PS Audio had used both speaker cable for their demos, maybe Paul can chime a bit on this, plus other members of this forum.
On my main system I use MG balanced interconnects . Kimber 1036 single-ended. Kimber Select 3038 speaker cables . I’ve used Kimber cables for years, but I dare say there will be better/different alternatives - I simply can’t be bothered with all the faffing about reviewing other makes/types… Mogami 2893 quad star balanced interconnects that I built myself … I find them to be a very good interconnect for basically peanuts… I always think that a great sounding product shouldn’t be defined by the cables used… When I first tried the DS I used bog-standard phono - phono interconnects that came packaged with a DVD player and, with said interconnects, the DS outperformed my Linn Klimax dac - by a large margin - with its much more expensive interconnects…
But then there is the downright ridiculous, cables packaged in boxes made from some rare wood like Dalbergia Sissoo and lined with Vicuna wool…! WHY ??
In terms of speaker cable, i had narrowed down and it’s between Audioquest Oak vs MG Planus III. Does anybody here have an experience with pairing it with BHK’s and Goldenear Triton One ?
Since PS Audio had used both speaker cable for their demos, maybe Paul can chime a bit on this, plus other members of this forum.
MG Audio. By far the best speaker cable I’ve ever used, bar none.
