FOMO will kick in as the glowing reviews of the PMG Pre come pouring in. There’s no shame in having two pre amps, and besides, we’ll all be so entertained as we follow your escapades. 
2 Likes
With “friends” like @tomhail, who needs…
3 Likes
MU2 has a pre inside so I have two preamps already, and that is enough for me. I have two DACs also because I still use DS MK2 with APS mod, and I wonder how much better PMG Dac compares to it, and I am sure I will read some reviews on that here.
But I do not play discs often so there is no rush for me to upgrade. Time will tell.
2 Likes
One of my audiophile buddies from out of state visited the last couple of days to evaluate the PMG preamp. He is very familiar with the sound of my system. I have between 150 to 200 hours on it so it is probably fully broken in. He could not believe the impact that the pre had on my system. He fell in love with the soundstage commenting not only was it well outside the speakers but it went through the back wall and the height was better than before. He said the separation of instruments was better than the BHK . He heard details on well known recordings that he never heard before. When I told him that PMG stated that the new DAC I ordered would result in a larger improvement than the pre , he stated that he can’t wait to hear it.
9 Likes
You devil. Up to now I’ve been perfectly happy with my BHK Pre.
3 Likes
Awesome. If the PMG Signature preamp is any indication, PS Audio has hit a home run with their all new PMG series components. The PMG preamp can compete with other preamps costing two or three times more in my opinion. It is an outstanding preamp.
2 Likes
The online reviews are continuing to appear.
This reviewer, Jim Swantko, “gave it the nod” (for dynamics) over the $10,000 Pass Labs XP-22 that he had just purchased.
7 Likes
Now that’s one positive review for sure. It gives one hope that all the pieces on the PMG line will be as well received.
4 Likes
Now if they can just lure Darren back the future of PS audio will look very bright. Promise him a DM series of components.
4 Likes
Only reason I have a BHK preamp is to improve the sound of my DSD MkI DAC. Not sure it makes since to upgrade my preamp again, vs selling both the BHK pre and DAC, and upgrading to a DAC/preamp combo. Wonder if using just the new PMG DAC with its volume control would sound better than my current combo?
I’d be happy to see “The HiFi Podcast with Darren and Duncan” resurrected😊. Not likely I suspect. Nothing new posted in over 18 months and the domain registration for the original has expired.
Was enjoyable while it lasted.
1 Like
My guess is. . . YES.
1 Like
Maybe Paul could chime in, but I seem to recall hearing that there will be a higher end volume control, or possibly a preamp section in the new PMG DAC.
1 Like
Steve, what do you really think? He likes it, a lot.
7 Likes
I am sure that there must be some people out there who use the new PMG preamp paired with the DS MKII DAC and I am curious how these two play together sonically. My MKII sitting on Stack Audio EQ footers sounds delicious delivering really nice depth with a wide soundstage. These are said to be the part of the PMG preamps strengths as well. My question concerns the synergy between the two. I could imagine circumstances where this could be too much of a good thing. I’m stretching here I imagine. Just hope someone who uses these two could confirm my assumption that the synergy works together in a positive way.
1 Like
I had the BHK pre, DS Mk2 and PST transport and got the PMG pre and transport end of June. Although quite good out of the box the pre improved a good deal in about 5 to 10 hours. It improved steadily up to about 150 hours (excellent sonically at this point) and I assumed that was about it for breakin. In fact there more but less dramatic improvements up to 200 hours and perhaps a bit more after that. Initially compared to the BHK I thought the PMG a little bass heavy and closed in at the top but these issues became nonexistent by about 40 to 50 hours. I still have a BHK pre but it will remain in the box; I feel no need to compare again.
Throughout I never felt the DS Mk2 was inhibiting the presentation. I don’t think you would find any lack of synergy as long as the PMG has enough hours on it, at least 50 but 100 should do it.
I had ordered the 512 DAC at the same time as the pre and transport and started to wonder if it would be that much of an improvement. I could easily live with the PMG + DS Mk2 combo and was very pleased with the results.
The good/bad news is the 512 really is as good as some at PSA have claimed. Yes it is a significant step up from the Mk2 but the PMG + Mk2 is still excellent in my view.
If you try the PMG pre I’d recommend giving it 50 hours or more before judging it. And you can still return it if it doesn’t workout.
4 Likes
Yes, the PMG Signature pre needs some break in. First few hours it was ok. I was thinking returning it. It is now more than 150 hours. Its sound quality is excellent in my book.
1 Like
For me it’s to the point that I don’t even listen for anomalies anymore (more than 400 hours now). The presentation is so balanced and of a whole that specific sonic flaws do not stand out, mainly because they are mostly no longer there. This is not achieved by homogenizing the sound. There is extensive inner detail but without over etching. If you want to focus on a particular instrument or line it is easy to do so but it’s not in your face.
4 Likes
Thanks for the quick reply. Sounds like the PMG preamp remains the front runner if I decide replace the Pass xp-22 that didn’t work out for me.
In my experience, XLR connection is the way to go with the PMG Signature pre.
1 Like