Part of the reason I’m writing this is because of several recent email exchanges with Scott McGowan. Those conversations really reinforced something that has always separated the McGowans from much of the industry — the belief that maintaining a genuine relationship with customers matters just as much as the hardware itself.
There’s a long-standing philosophy there of listening to feedback from actual owners and enthusiasts while products are still evolving, and I honestly think that connection plays a major role in why so many PS Audio and Sprout products end up feeling so musically “right.” Customers are not just buyers standing on the outside looking in; they’re part of the conversation.
That level of openness and willingness to engage is becoming rare these days, and it deserves recognition.
The Sprout100 has always been my fallback integrated — the amp I come back to between system upgrades and the piece I use as my personal reference point. No matter what else comes and goes through the system, it consistently reminds me what truly musical playback sounds like.
I know GR Research speakers aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but my fully maxed-out X-LS Encores have always been my baseline reference speakers. They’re revealing without sounding sterile, extremely coherent through the midrange, and honest enough to let upstream changes show themselves clearly without exaggeration. That makes them a great tool for judging gear IMO.
With the Sprout100 driving these speakers, Leonard Cohen’s Dear Heather feels less like playback and more like a personal visit in my listening room. There’s a natural warmth and intimacy there that’s just magical.
I’m actually sitting here right now doing back-and-forth comparisons between the Sprout100 and an SGCD/S300 stack using these same speakers, and it still amazes me how well the Sprout100 holds its ground. Different presentation, certainly — but the fact that this little integrated can even stay in the conversation says a lot about how special it is.
If what Scott and his team are working on now can take the Sprout100 concept to the next level while keeping that same musical soul intact… well, I’ll be first in line.
