I am still within the 30-day trial period of the PMG Signature preamp. I have just joined the PS Audio Forum and posted two topics, “Dirty bottom plate” and the “Tricky remote”. My intent is to share my experience and hope PS Audio would take note and make improvements down the road. These are minor issues, not deal breakers. I can happily live with them.
The following review is solely based upon sound quality and has nothing to do with aesthetics and functionality. If you want to skip the long review, here is my take on the PMG preamp.
I am keeping it. Its sound quality blows me away.
I am a vinyl die-hard. I only listen to LPs and have a 30 years-old cheap CD player that I have only listened to for a few hours since I bought it. I have a RCA only tube preamplifier ($20,000) for more than ten years because of its great sound quality and reliability. I have been watching Paul’s YouTube videos about the benefits of balanced signals and true balanced circuits in PS audio products. One of my audiophile friends also switched to XLR connections in his entire audio system and told me how much better the sound was compared to RCAs. I decided to try balanced preamplifiers.
One day I stumbled upon a YouTube video about the new PMG series audio components from PS Audio. The cost, the features, the true balanced circuits and the stellar specs (-145 db noise floor) of the PMG Signature preamp piqued my interest. In my opinion, low noise floor is critical for enjoyment of vinyl sound. Most importantly, PS Audio offers a 30-day trial period. I bit the bullet and ordered the preamp. We all mostly rely on audio magazines’ reviews to decide what audio components to audition or buy. But the reviews are always positive (and we all know why) and based upon the reviewers’ taste, their systems, and their rooms. Nothing is better than a home trial in our own systems and our own rooms.
The PMG Signature preamp is my first audio component from PS Audio. Since I didn’t have any top tier XLR cables, I used my reference RCAs to audition the PMG preamp. Compared to the old preamp, the PMG preamp in RCA mode sounded quite close to the old preamp. That is good but not what I wanted. I then pulled out some cheap XLR cables to try the PMG preamp in balanced configuration. The sound of the PMG preamp became better in sound quality and was slightly better than my old preamp overall. I was totally surprised the cheap XLR cables made the PMG preamp that much better, possibly due to XLR connections? I guess so.
I decided to get high quality XLRs and run balanced throughout my entire system. With 100 hours on the PMG preamp and about 50 hours run in on the new XLR cables, I listened again. Boy, the moment I dropped the needle on one of my favorite LPs, my jaw dropped. Compared to the old preamp, the PMG preamp in balanced mode is more transparent, quieter background, better dynamics and fuller sounding. The tone is clean, pure, and liquid. Sound is present and immediate. It never sounds harsh or dull. It is very detailed with great micro-dynamics. Transience and speed are top notch. High frequency is pristine, midrange is rich and low is tight and articulate. I can use one word to describe the PMG preamp, “live”.
The look of the preamp is very nice, simple and elegant. It is a hefty and solid block of metal that can play music. Although $9k is not chump change, it is affordable compared to many astronomically priced preamps in the market. The 30-day trial is fantastic. Most of my audio components were purchased through trials. By the way, Paul, I applaud you for having a forum where members can say positive and also not so positive things about your products. You are very open-minded. Bravo for making such an excellent preamp. No wonder you are putting your name on the line (PMG). Now I am a believer in XLR connections and fully balanced circuits. My old preamp is now on sale. My next upgrade would be my 15 years-old phono preamp. When will the PMG Signature Phono preamplifier be available?