Things seem to be sufficiently broken in on these brutes to offer some thoughts. Many of you already own a glimpse of what these amps can do. By that I mean the M800’s follow in the same sonic tradition as the other PMG components, especially the DAC. It’s super quiet, dynamic and highly resolving. The BHK models are sweet and seductivec (tubes?) but if you want step everything up a notch, these amps can do it. The lower noise floor was noticeable right at the start. My dedicated listening room is a highly treated basement bunker where I can easily hear power transformers and whirring cd players. The M800’s don’t hum (no tranny) and the signal quiet they present lets you listen deeper into the music. I would venture that if you can get one spec right, great signal-to-noise at all frequencies, you have the foundation on which great reproduction follows. The PMG stuff excels here. But how does it sound? I don’t know, in the sense that it doesn’t seems to have a characteristic, and that’s a good thing, nothing stands out as over emphasized or romantically presented. I have had Class A amps in the past ( Mark Levinson, Electrocompaniet) and thought their neutrality was tops, but dynamics suffered due to their low output. The M800’s, however, have rock solid control on the FR30’s. In fact, these amps get loud fast, and I’m “gain riding” my system even more than before. All of this extra mojo seems most noticeable in the frequency extremes. Bass is deeper, tighter, and the high end is more present and extended, even with these old ears.
The combinations of all the above create a stage that seems more immediate and immersive. It’s easier to pinpoint instruments and the space around them, despite the shenanigans the recording engineer might be playing. I can’t say the image is wider or deeper, I just see it better. Even with all these good advances, my pass/fail is do things sound like the real thing. The M800’s do make things more palatable, believable. This especially stands out with instruments with layered harmonics - voices, strings, piano. The M800’s complete and compliment the PMG lineup. Good stuff.
Great pictures, your system must sound amazing 
Great to hear your thoughts on the new amps. I recently got the PMG preamp in and it has allowed my new Prodigio electrostats to perform at a whole new level.
Since my stats have no crossover in the main panel, I feel even minor improvements will be plainly audible. My BHK300’s work well with them but of course I’m temped to bring in the M400 monoblocks to compare .
On top of that, I’ve just been offered a loan of the LTA Century OTL tube monoblocks. I’m hoping to compare them all in my system.
Congrats. After you get a PMG power amp, your next rabbit hole could be interconnect. Once you try interconnect on the level of Front Row Reserve (or even better) in your system, your system will jump up to another level you never thought possible. You will hear a new level of clarity you never knew existed. (Others on this forum influenced me to upgrade interconnect, and now power cables, and they were right. Because of cost, it has taken time to improve cables, and has been totally worth the time and effort)
Did you ever try the Iconoclast in your system? I’m running XLR’s and biwire speaker cables - the top models.
While Iconoclast is recommended, with good reason, and will always speak highly of Galen, others on the forum can chime in with direct personal comparison of just how much better cables like Audience Front Row Reserve and Stealth are.
Don’t want to say too much in the amp thread, but I have used two pairs of Iconoclast UPOCC XLRs for a number of years, plus other great IC cables in my system. But Audience FrontRow Reserve XLR sounded fuller and more analog-like with equal if not better details in my system. The soundstage is phenomenal as well. In my system FRR is a clear winner so I got my second pair not long ago (I must after hearing it). Finally, I can safely say I am done with interconnect.
Okay, if I want to upgrade I am looking at something will cost $20k, or more 
So, I am, at this point, not going there yet.
However, Iconoclast brand is excellent for the price and I heartly recommend it.
I’m curious, were there any other amps you considered or demoed before settling on the PMG 800’s?
Nice review and I remember the room from the FR30 fine-tuning video PSA posted. The handmade acoustic block pieces are super cool.
Gorgeous system, straightwire!! Your’s is amongst the very few systems I am envious of and would love to hear in this forum. Love the room treatment!
Thanks. The original listening room with the FR30 installation has been upgraded to a much larger room, but still in the basement. The panel diffusers definitely help, but it’s the PSI C214 active base traps on the back wall that make all the difference. If I take them off, a get a severe room nodes hangover.
Great and descriptive review, straightwire. Quiet, dynamic, resolving, deep tight bass, extended highs, immersive, lack of sound characteristics, and believable says volumes about these great amps. Can’t wait now till PS Audio gets back with me about my getting their m400 amps into my own system 
Your system is beautiful visually - and I bet your sound is breathtaking. Love how you take care to address the room nodes.
Are you running your Foundry subs with this system? Where are they currently set up at in your room? What size is your room?
In your rack, could you tell me what two smaller components you have on your second shelf?
Thanks for the informative and detailed review - and congrats on a great system!
Walt
@straightwire Were the PSI traps something you discovered from research or were they recommended? Looks quite compelling.
@straightwire will tell you where you can get the best price on those PSI traps!
For the purpose of the M800 evaluation, I purposely did not use the four Foundry subs. I am still in the process of finding the best location for them. A pattern of two on the front wall and two on the back wall seemed best, but I also did not like the look or the slight interference of the subs between the speakers. With the wireless sub connection, I’m going to try a bunch of different spots. I’ve also been too lazy to use REW Wizard to fine tune things. Truth be told, with new amps, the lack of motivation is particularly due to getting deeper bass without the subs.
As for the two black boxes, they are an Ethernet switch and power supply for it from Reiki Audio. They are in house for evaluation and I will be reporting on it in a few days. Take a look at their web site and check out their Absolute Sound review last fall.
As for the room, it’s fairly large, maybe 15’ x 23’, with a shorter 7’ 6” ceiling.
You’ll find a lot of PSI C214 topic conversation on this forum. I’ve generated my share of comments and I’m a big believer in them. Several forum members can attest to their value. In a nutshell, these active traps cancel the additional unwanted bass energy in the 20-170 Hz region. Fewer standing waves reduce room nodes and the upper frequencies benefit as well. Passive traps, like the GIK ones I have in the corners, are way less effective.
I approached PSI, a respected pro audio company, a couple years ago to discuss marketing strategy in the audiophile market. Those discussions, along with face-to-meetings and booth duty at Axpona, has morphed into me representing the line as well.
I have tried a lot of locations for the F12 subs. In between the FR30 speakers is bad because it interferes with their passive bass drivers, and that also interferes with the soundstage and accurate instrument or singer location and depth.
For the front 2 a couple feet away from the corners seems about right aiming at an angle to the listening spot so cabinet bass waves do not bounce perpendicular.
I also have bass traps in all 4 corners with rear membranes and front diffusors to limit their dampening effect to only lower frequencies. The mids can get suppressed too much with too much full range absorption. ASC subtraps are useful to get the relatively small F12’s up into the listening area and not just down on the floor.
The back location is still a work in progress. I had one centered on the back wall and delayed a bit. I moved that one now to the side of the room on the floor with Auva SW feet aiming at the listening spot 2/3 the way into the room. I am considering another one for the other side, which apparently is what PSA has been using, side double stacks.
The M400’s are fully capable of hitting any volume I require, and I like rock music or metal fairly loud. I am sure the M800’s are even more impressive but was surprised to see they have lower sensitivity rating.
Let us know what you have come up with.
I don’t have new news on the FR12 locations. I purposely took them out of the system so I could focus on equipment evaluations and not have the influence of a non-maximized sub. And, the M800’s make the bass better, deeper. l will get back to sub surround-a-thon, someday soon, I hope.
Now that I am not using it I will get my Gryphon Apex to you so you can make comparisons. Don’t worry, it is two completely separare amps in one chassis. You can consider it as a pair. It has a separate power cable for each amp.
When do I pick it up? Lol 