Been watching Paul’s videos on and off for year’s but have never owned any PS Audio gear or even been to a show to hear any of it yet. However, I’ve been interested the BHK line and I now have a chance to acquire a complete PS Audio stack in exchange for my current amplifier and I”m trying to decide if it is worth it. I’ve been told synergy is a thing, but I’ve never had all my gear from the same line or know if I’ve ever really experienced it. I guess I’m fairly ignorant in this. Hoping for guidance from those who know the gear best.
The set includes:
PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier
PS Audio StellarWave BHK Monoblock 300s
PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player SACD Transport
PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK1 no Bridge
PS Audio DirectStream PowerPlant 12
They will power Magnepan 1.7i’s or CSS 1TD-X speakers w/ a Rhythmic sub and I only have a little Wiim streamer and a modest homemade turntable with a cheap phono as sources. I also have a Chord TT2 DAC that I have liked a lot but I think I might end up selling that if I like the DirectStream DAC and getting a nicer streamer, maybe an AirLense.
I guess I’d first like people’s take on system synergy and how big a deal that is outside of appearances. I’ve had that general question in the back of my head and always wondered how well my stuff really went together in the past.
I’d also like to get people’s opinion on that setup and its strengths and weaknesses. If I sell my Chord DAC and use those funds for an upgrade, where would it make sense?
Lastly, is there anything I should be aware of buying any of those pieces preowned?
I’m not sure what your current amplefier is but those monoblocks should be able to power your speakers without any issue.
I’m not nearly as experienced as a lot of the users here but you can’t go wrong with that PS audio set up. I just acquired a bhk pre and modded mk1 dac last year and have been loving them in my system. Your PS audio set and speakers are even nicer so I can only imagine how good it’ll sound.
As far as next upgrades after that PS audio set, I’d probably look into tubes for your bhk pre and room treatment if you haven’t already treated it. I wasn’t a big room treatment believer until I put some panels and a cloud up. I still need to put some mini bass traps up but it’s made a tremendous difference.
Best of luck with the new system, I’m excited for you! Give us updates if you pull the trigger
Can’t speak to the match to your speakers, but that PS Audio array should sound fantastic with great synergy, at least in my experience.
I’ve owned all the same except P15 instead of P12. I upgraded the DAC to MKII, and disc player to PST, with noticeable improvement with each, but kept the DS DAC and Memory Player for second system. Someday when have the bucks hoping to upgrade to PMG pre, DAC and SACD player, but those will have to wait quite a while.
BTW, you mean “PerfectWave BHK 300 mono’s”, not “StellarWave”, correct?
Pretty sure the P12 will handle power requirements of those components, but you may want to verify. Also may want to check if any warranty left on any of the components, just so you know your risk factor. I’ve had near 0 issues with all of those components.
Sorry for the confusion. They are the BHK Signature 300 mono blocks. I don’t actually see PefectWave or StellerWave listed on them, though the seller listed StellerWave. They look to the tube hybrid mono blocks. Was there a StellerWave version of that?
There have been Stellar line mono’s, but not BHKs. Mine say: “BHK Signature 300 Amplifier” on the front panel, so likely we’re talking about the same amps, and yes, they’re hybrid mono amps with tubes on the input stage.
Yes, these say the exact same thing as yours and I believe are the same amps. Should give me everything I need and more. I also have not has a pre amp in my system the last couple years and just went DAC to amp. I’m looking forward to the SACD transport too as I don’t have one in my system, though I do have a big old collections I’m looking forward to getting back into to.
Lastly, I’ve never had a power product before. I’m hoping the P12 can power the BHK Pre, SACD Transport, DAC, streamer, and maybe the 300 monos, Any advice?
I love my P12. It powers my BHK Pre, DSD MKII, PST, Stellar Phono, and my M1200s without breaking a sweat. I know that the 300s are a different animal so hopefully someone with experience with those can comment.
you will be in a treat for having the whole PSA system, and P12 will make your daytime listening much more enjoyable.
If you ever think about future upgrade, I would suggest trading in BHK pre to a PMG Pre. it may improve the system the most by lowering the noise floor greatly.
I know someone with almost a full 100% PS Audio system. The system includes a PMG Transport, PMG DAC, PMG Preamp, BHK 600 monoblocks and FR30 speakers, but has a Gryphon PowerZone, an audiophile ethernet filter, and an audiophile network switch. The system does sound excellent, and the term “excellent” is an understatement.
Kind words. I would add that all Steath power, speaker and source cables add to that “excellence”.
One should also consider that system quality is dependent on the room that it is playing in. Short of building your own room, a combination of passive and active treatments (Black Boxes, PSI C214’s, GIK panels) have done more good together than single component upgrades. Not perfect, but it smooths the room bumps out. I haven’t tried other digital processing, like BAACH ORC, which others have had good results. Anyway, remember the room if you want the best out of any system, from a single brand, or a mix.
Thanks everyone, lots of good info here for me already. I’m loving how much response I’ve gotten as some forums are much slower. I did end up making the swap of my McIntosh MC1502 for the PS Audio stack. Feeling super nervous but also excited as I set it all up now. Those BHK Signature 300 momoblocks are no joke. I just got those up the stairs and placed and have now decided to give myself a rest and check the forums. Ha.
I’m still interested and learning about everything but I did come up with another quick question. I think I have two good think power cables, two decent ones, and two cheapos. I was thinking I would use the two think boys on the mono blocks, the decent ones on the Preamp and the DAC, and the cheap to the P12 and DSM SACD Transport. Do I need to get another nice cable for the P12 or should I swap one of the decent cables for that? I’m not sure if the cable from the wall to the P12 would be as big a deal since the power is getting converted after that cable.
Absolutely you want to get a decent, make that a great, cord for P12. In fact, many believe the best cord should go to the power generator to ensure you have the cleaner power going into it. It benefits all components.
Yeesh, that’s what I was afraid of and why I asked. Thanks for the heads up. I guess for today I’ll use one of my decent one instead of a cheap one. It sounds like I would be best putting my best cable on the P12 but having different cables to each mono block throws off my natural desire for things to be symmetrical. In the long run I will need a couple new cables. Any recommendations staying on the more afforable side?
Whoops, I have one more nice cable I forgot about that I will use for the P12. Always a nice surprise to find you have what you need. Still might need one more nice power cable though.
Among the more reasonable ones that I have tried like Audio Envy, lower ends of AQ, lower ends of SR, Anticable, a few Chinese made PCs, PSA 12?(don’t remember), and others I do not recall. I like Anticable Level 3 for power components the most.
One level up would be Zevfino OCC Silver Dart, I like it better than AQ Thunder. But it is stiff as a rod. Occasionally you can find a used one, but not often.
I heard the new Shunyata Theta X is excellent, but it is not cheap.
Until you know your new system, forget about minor “fixes” with cable choices. Take a month with you favorite music to learn how it sounds with your new gear. Doing otherwise and you risk picking between A/B not because it sounds better but because it sounds more like your old Mc intosh.
I probably have around 5 hours of listening on the system so far. Well… Wowza. This system is incredible. Huge improvement in resolution and impact over my prior system, which I thought had very nice pieces. This really is on another level though and the best I’ve personally ever had. Many levels up actually.
To the point JKWAustin was making, there is so much new that I need to adjust and kind of reset. One of the things that I am unfortunately feeling I somewhat missed out on when I added so many pieces at once is that I have no clue where all the improvements have come from. I in a way skipped steps of the journey and have not listed to one upgraded piece at a time, learning to appreciate it. I may try to pull some things from the system to try and get a bit of a feel for each pieces impact.
I had thought my CD collection would have included some SACD’s but looking through I did not spot anything indicating it was so I think I might run out and try to pick something up tonight so I can try it and DSD for the first time. That said, I started with an old Tom Petty CD I’ve had forever and I have never heard it sound so good. For some reason, loosing Bob Weir has also made me really miss Petty. I had thought I was going to get to see them both again. Man, music can do amazing things for us.
Sometimes I tend to be too subtle (heck, my students [retired professor of chemistry] said it was all the time. My underlying point was: you took the plunged and made a major swap (steal, actually) ostensibly to have a system that would present your music to you in a more transparent way. Owning two separate systems composed of all PS Audio save turntables, I was reasonably certain you would find that the case and I am glad you did. Now is the time to enjoy the system, not fret over why it’s better or even how you could tweak it further. Indeed, moving from an integrated to separates means you will never really know which component is contributing to the improved experience. I think audio nirvana is achieved when you no longer seek to make small, incremental improvements and you are consumed by music, not electronics. Now if you do get bored, you could consider moving up the PS Audio chain.
Hard to recommend a SACD without knowing musical tastes but Keith Jarrett’s Koln concert shines on my system from SACD. To be honest, it shines for me from just about any source. Though just one instrument (plus Keith’s musings from time to time) I hear the piano spread a bit across the sound stage, low strings to high.
