Black Friday Temptation

Like many of you here, I was intrigued by the email from PS Audio a couple of weeks ago teasing that there would be a big special coming for the Black Friday sale day. When it was finally announced that it was going to be on the BHK components, I felt a problem coming. I just had to go and listen to them, didn’t I?

The BHK has been on the radar for a while as we are designing a new listening / theatre room and as that is going to cost a lot, I figured I might as well include upgrades to the hi-fi kit as well. We are still about 2 years from getting the room built so there was no hurry to change the current system.

Anyway, I made an appointment to see my favourite dealer, Carlton Audio Visual for last Sunday. The system setup was the same as my system at home, except for the amps. Various hi res files played from USB stick into the Bryston BDP-2 to Directstream, BHK Pre/250 into Dynaudio Confidence C1 Signatures. Needless to say, the amps drove the Dyns with ease. Lovely lucid, flowing sounds, low noise. Slightly different from my Octave amplifier - perhaps slightly less sweet but more open and quiet.

As one of the objectives of the new room is to get full range speakers, we swapped out the Dynaudios for Monitor Audio Platinum 500 Mk. II. The change was night and day. The increased bass extension, space, air and slam was immediately apparent. The room was fully pressurised - in some cases overwhelmed by the power of the system. I was grinning like a fool by now.

We were listening to a great recording of the Houston Symphony - Dvorak New World Symphony on Pentatone. It was suggested we listen to this piece again, this time swapping out the BHK250 for the BHK300’s.

Just when you think it couldn’t get much better, from the opening notes, you could hear more. Clarity, slam, musical flow were all obviously improved . At that point, all pretense of analytical listening went out the window and I sat down to an hour and a half of listening to favourite tracks, marvelling that I had never heard them like this before. This system allows you to shut your eyes and be transported to the studio or recoding venue and become totally immersed in the moment. The soundstage was huge seemingly bigger than the room and the speakers had disappeared completely.

For me, I have always bought hi fi equipment on my emotional response to how I feel when listening to favourite pieces of music. If the hairs on my neck stand up orI can shed a tear, then the system is doing something right. If I sit and analyse what is happening with the bass or the soundstage or the mids or air or any other audiophile expression, then for me, something’s not right.

Having slept on the decision, I ordered the BHK Pre/300’s the next day and am eagerly awaiting their delivery. Many thanks to PS Audio for making this purchase possible with their very tempting special offer.

What a great, well written, caring description of the listening experience. I am excited for you. Thank you for sharing!

Although off topic, just to add to my previous impressions, we also had a Directstream Memory Player available to audition. As I had brought along a few CD’s to audition, we also used that as a transport. Whilst I was not able to do any direct comparisons between streamed files and Redbook CD’s of the same material, it was pretty clear that the CD playback was at a very high level - certainly a quantum improvement from my Musical Fidelity A5 CD player.

Out of interest, I plugged in my USB stick to the DMP to play some of the tracks previously played through the Bryston BDP-2. Blow me down if the DMP didn’t easily beat the Bryston as a digital transport. More clarity, attack, timing and pace.

Is this due to the digital lens doing the same thing to files read from the transport as fed in via the USB slot?

Regards,

Chris

Exactly. The BDP is a single board computer connected to its various outputs in the same manner as most all servers of its ilk. They are better than a straight Mac Mini when used off-the-shelf but they don’t seem to go to the trouble of isolating the SBC from the outputs through a Digital Lens type device.

In our upcoming Octave server, the effort in hardware has all been focused on the all critical Digital Lens - and in this device were building what I like to think of as a Power Lens: focusing on galvanically isolating the power and grounds from the all-noisy digital environment.

Power Lens!

This sounds like something a superhero would have access to.

I purchased the BHK Signature PreAmp via Upscale Audio on 28th of November. It turns out they were out of stock and said my PreAmp would be coming directly from PS Audio. They said you guys were swamped with the sale orders and Upscale Audio had no timeframe for delivery. As I don’t have a PS Audio invoice number, I am wondering if PS Audio has any idea on timeframes for when they think they’ll be able to fill all these orders, especially those from 3rd parties? Tomorrow (I can hope can’t I)? This month? Pretty Please…

Thanks in advance…in case you haven’t noticed I can’t wait. happy-132_gif

rayk said

I purchased the BHK Signature PreAmp via Upscale Audio on 28th of November. It turns out they were out of stock and said my PreAmp would be coming directly from PS Audio. They said you guys were swamped with the sale orders and Upscale Audio had no timeframe for delivery. As I don’t have a PS Audio invoice number, I am wondering if PS Audio has any idea on timeframes for when they think they’ll be able to fill all these orders, especially those from 3rd parties? Tomorrow (I can hope can’t I)? This month? Pretty Please…

Thanks in advance…in case you haven’t noticed I can’t wait. happy-132_gif


I’m in the same boat for the preamp (11/28), purchased from a smaller dealer, so it might be awhile.

Tom and Ray,

I am in the same boat. No delivery date in sight. Best I can ascertain that it won’t be this side of Christmas. As my late father always said to me - Patience is a virtue.

One other thing for me is that the anticipation of a new toy is half the fun :slight_smile:

Best,

Chris

At least I have a new DirectStream DAC which seems to work well as a preamp. It’ll come when it comes … I’m sure the elves are working very hard to catch up in Boulder.

I ordered my BHK pre direct from PS Audio on 26 November and the note I got back from Kevin Jackson said it will be “shipping out within the next few weeks”. My definition of “few” is 3-12, so delivery could be December or could be February (shudder). In a sense I’m “glad” to hear others are waiting too, not that I’m “glad” to wait, but at least there are others in line with me (it’s so lonely at the back). I knew I should have ordered on Thursday when the sale started, but I had to convince myself this is what I wanted (like that should have been a hard thing to do).

rayk said

I purchased the BHK Signature PreAmp via Upscale Audio on 28th of November. It turns out they were out of stock and said my PreAmp would be coming directly from PS Audio. They said you guys were swamped with the sale orders and Upscale Audio had no timeframe for delivery. As I don’t have a PS Audio invoice number, I am wondering if PS Audio has any idea on timeframes for when they think they’ll be able to fill all these orders, especially those from 3rd parties? Tomorrow (I can hope can’t I)? This month? Pretty Please…

Thanks in advance…in case you haven’t noticed I can’t wait. happy-132_gif


Rayk,

We are expecting to fulfill orders anywhere from the middle of December to possibly the middle of January. We are building and shipping units based on when we received the orders. We are shipping dealer orders the same way so you won’t be delayed in anyway by purchasing through a dealer. Once these units ship you will receive an automated email from FedEx with tracking information. If you’d like a more accurate update on your particular order please feel free to give us a call and we can see where your order is in the queue. Thank you all for being patient while we get these orders processed.

Thank you Kevin. Appreciate the update.

Ordered mine on November 22nd. Got the Black Friday price and the email stating they would ship in a few weeks. The BHK 250 and BHK Signature preamp arrived today! Will set them up tomorrow morning.

New guy here and after a couple of hours of reading decided to make my first post.

Darn! I missed the Black Friday Sale!!! Anyone know when another such sale might appear?

  • Bob

No idea about that kind of a sale. Keep in mind, though, that PSA has a generous trade-in program, applicable even to non-PSA gear. Details are on the web site; see Products/Trade-up.

Still waiting for the BHK Pre to ship. Monos are in the shop but I need to wait until the pre shows up. Now 3 months and counting.

45_gif

Three months and it hasn’t even shipped yet?! That’s frustrating. But you will love it when it comes. The BHK pre is a big improvement over my old c-j Premier 14, which was no slouch.

BHK Pre and 300 Monos installed yesterday afternoon. Presently burning in. Already sounding good after 30 minutes warm up. Will get in some serious listening on the weekend.
A 4 month wait is over. As Master Po once said “Patience young grasshopper “

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