Tube or Solid state? Why not both - PS Audio BHK Amplifier review ! 

Not sure if I would ever spend this much on an amp of any type, but I did recently buy two one year old PS Audio Stellar Monoblock 700 amps at half price (still expensive), and I will say, they are the best amps I’ve ever heard that did not cost more than $15,000. I got them both for about $1,500. PS Audio even gave me a full warranty, as if I had just bought them new. The company is great. Their equipment sounds extremely clean, clear and has very serious dynamics. Hope to hear a BHK one day.

Thanks for the video. I have owned several amps over the years, to include AV Receivers from Denon (upper line) to Pioneer Elite, Onkyo M-504, old Carver TFM-55, Bryston 4B SST, and for a very short time Bryston 14B SST. I originally purchased the PS Audio BHK 250 stereo and it was a great sounding amp, but I recently sold this and purchased the PS Audio BHK300 mono blocks. The stock tubes are good but you can switch them out for others which may sound better. I use the Tungsram, as suggested by another online vendor, and I am very happy. I haven't done many side by side comparisons but I can tell you these BHK amps are the best sounding amps that I have owned. It would be difficult to compare an amp at an audio store as there are way too many variables, including speakers, room size, furniture, and acoustic panels. These BHK amps are heavy as heck, weighing in over 85lbs each. I have a dedicated 20 amp circuit for these amps. In the future, I would like to take the Pass Labs X600.8 for trial. There are a lot of great amps on the market, buy used if you are unable to afford a new amp. Bryston has a 20 year transferable warranty on their products. and they make one heck of an amp. PS Audio has a good warranty and it is also transferable to the next owner. I am sure other amp vendors do the same. Thanks for the video. By the way, I enjoyed your recent detailed video on the Parasound amps. Good job.

Love the insights. Very informative review. Hope you win the lottery.

Thank you for this review. There are very few BHK preamplifier and power amplifier reviews online. Probably because of the cost. I hope you review the matching PS Audio BHK preamplifier soon. Like you, the BHK power amplifier is on my wishlist.

HI, Jay! Thanks for the video. I love magneplanars and I was wondering if you think any of the Maggies may be a good match for the BHK. Thanks!

Sure love to hear this with PS audio‘s new FR 30 speakers!

Very well explained! The other Audio Reviewers should take Notice!🤔🤓😎🤗 I just used your example in the comments before hearing you mention your example. Great minds think a like!🤓🤓🤓😝🥳

If I had a pair of planar magnetic speakers that needs a high quality superamp to drive them - the PS Audio BHK will probably be on my shortlist.

I always....enjoy your videos...not just reviews....but a little history behind the scenes on gear design...and articulate insight...great job! Seems like the hybrid amp design sound, should....open the door to other brands, especially CHI-FI clones...i grant u, nothing, and i mean nothing will compete w the stellar design, and breadth of knowledge of this engineer and this company...but...clone designs....just maybe....will bring the cost of this innovative hybrid amp down, so it is affordable! Love this amp, but I am not about to mortgage my house to buy one. Another approach is scalability, hybrid amps small to medium size is certainly conceivable. Key to any SS amp design is a high current amp, w plenty of reserve power, enough to drive speakers down into 2 ohms, great power supplies, capacitors and circuit design, not cost cutting circuit board components. Simple stuff like a mfg not using 5 cent capacitors, but 25 cent capacitors for example. PS Audio has not only great engineering design, but quality control...before, during, and after assembly, backing up what they sell...sadly I cannot afford their gear.

Great video Jay! What I would really like to know is how does this compare with the even more premium Momentum D'Agostino amps at the store?!

Hi i need your help to take a decision , i have a pair Dynaudio Contour 20 speakers, PS Audio Directstream DAC ,BHK Pre Amp, and the Stellar M300 amplifier. I want to know if is a good idea to change the Stellar M300 to the BHK Signature 250 amplifier? The size of my room is 12 x 10 , so i will really appreciate your help to know what to do, Thanks

Hey Jay, a couple of questions. One what speakers did you listen with ? Two did you compare the 250 with the 300 ? Three what front end did you use ?

Hi, do you have any comments on BHK compare with Passlabs 350.8? They are both good but is one better than the other? Thanks.

It helps if you set the speed on this video to 1.25X.

It's expensive but I will buy it. I know burmeister does something like this in the S class. I would love to build one myself though. I think they will sound great with avant-garde speakers.

I have a pair of Buchardts s400 se. would they be good enough for this amp?

Jay, appreciate if you can give a comparison with the Macintosh Mc402. Looking to change it. Also how long the tubes last, some say 6 mo. that seems so short. Thanks.

Great review. I haven’t actually heard a BHK, but from what I’ve heard about them, they’re obviously something that seems pretty special. For sure on my short list of amps to listen to when possible. I also heard that PS Audio will be selling direct, and I wonder how and if it will effect the prices of their components.

@jayiyagi --- Why doesn't it have any controls (buttons, switches, knobs) or displays on the front?

Jay would you say that this on the warm side not bright? Also have you heard any of the Aavik int amps? If so how does it compare? Thank you!

It’s been 3 years since this review. Christmas is here and shopping for a new stereo amp. With all of the reviews you have done since you did this one, does the BHK 250 stereo amp still hold the same status with you or are there other amps in this price range that have moved in?

Awesome Class A amp. It's definitely a flagship. Like its smaller sibling, the BHK250 which I have, it is partial Class A and runs hot, downright toasty at times, worse if you keep your home above 72 degrees fahrenheit. PS Audio recommends that it be on (or on standby) all the time but will not discuss how hot the unit can get before the heat impacts internal components, except not to worry. It will shut down if it overheats, of course, but that does not speak to heat impact over the long term. Like many luxury cars, you are taking a chance keeping it after its warranty period if you are expecting a long, maintenance-free life. PS Audio just won't address the matter directly, which is not reassuring. SQ is important and I'm having a great time listening to music with it but the relationship will end before the warranty period ends. SQ is important, but so is knowing how long we can expect a maintenance-free life.

Im actually working on a purchase on this amp. Would be interesting to experience a hybrid amp.

OFF TOPIC: Do some PS Audio BHK Signature Preamp tops (the enameled wood) have an autograph in gold marker, from Bascom H. King, on their front-right? I had seen some for sale (2nd hand) and was wondering if these were legitimate PS Audio units with a real autograph, Chinese knock-offs of the preamp, or forged autographs.

I have a pair of the 300’s I noticed a big reduction in power and quality of sound these past 2 to 3 months after almost 8 months of moderate listening (I am guilty for leaving them on all night, once in a while). I just ordered 2 pairs of replacement tubes. It should do the trick. Paul from PS audio says he changes his tunes every 6 months

hi jay. i also visit your other channels when your testing 10's of thousands of pound amplifiers , my question is how good is this bhk compared to those expensive amps? the reason i ask is that i own a bhk 250 but have never heard in person or cant afford say a £ 50,00 amp? just to settle my mind...thanks

“Historical story that will go from generation to generation” 😂😂😂😂😂

I wonder what it would take to get the hum or buzz noise out of the background. I am not offended. I just wonder.

Oh I head a few high end amps. Mola Mola is one of the best and then Class A Lamb monoblocks, Audio research tube monoblocks, Naim Uniti Star and Tube Leben cs600. There is no "best" it all depends on the room, speakers and what your needs are. At this level over 5-6 to 20k you start comparing Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini and Pagani. My favorite amp was the Leben...It was magic and only 32 watts a channel...second best was Mola Mola. THEY HAVE LOTS OF POWER and can drive reference speakers and are cleaner than the operating room in sound and the most neutral sounding. They destroy bad equipment and you need high end EVERYthing to get them to hook up right. Then Mola mola is the best I heard. Leben best with least amount of work you need to do! ALSO Luxman Class A is magic as well..Not as good as the Leben but close. I like naim uniti star a perfect all rounder class ab amp streamer integrated. It is like a Rolex watch and good at it all and the best one box integrated on the market i heard with built in streamer to beat it you need to spend 2-5x as much on exotic components and cables.

I know what you want for Christmas now cross your fingers if I win the Powerball I'll buy myself one and one for you 😜🤪😄💪💪👍👍👌🙌🙌 PS Bascom King is a living legend you only confirmed what I already thought about it is truly magical

Hey where are you located? I want to see if we are close by enough so that we can share the systems with each other.

How does it compare to McIntosh power amps with autoformers?

It nice to see what happens when designers get the chance to do a money no object design. I just watched a RU-vid with Gordon Murray talking about his new hyper car the T.50 which shows the real attention to detail in every aspect of the design. Although it's still kind of sad, as with all these things, that only a small percentage of people will ever get to own and experience them. But still great they exist though as they show what can be done...but I guess I will have wait in hope for a cheaper Asian clone

Hi Jay, it would be great if you review sometime Devialet Expert pro and compare it with some similar amp may be with PS audio also.

This might be kind of a quibble, but I think that getting the best possible amplifier you can afford makes a lot of sense unless you have truly mediocre speakers. You said that this amplifier would make speakers sound their best. I don't see why that would be a problem. Otherwise, you would have to say that "the speakers could sound better, if only I had better amplification". All you're doing is choosing where your weak link is in the chain. And if you are trying to do the best with what you've got, IMO having an amp that can really make your speakers shine is a good investment. ISTM that the weak link is what should be upgraded, and that exceeding the average quality of your gear is the only sort of upgrade that makes aense.

As i always say, people don't realize we are talking about luxury products at these prices not just HiFi. The question is A) if you have the money and B) if you want to spent the money. There is no value for money here the same way there is no value for money in a Rolex watch that will tell the time same way a cheap watch made in China will. When was the last time you heard anyone say that a Rolex or a Ferrari is not a value for money?

The new Gryphon Essence power amplifiers are pure class a Sounds absolutely fantastic

The Swiss High End manufacturer Ensemble Audio has been making hybrid valve/solid state amplifiers for over 20 years. I bought their hybrid Pre-amp/ power amplifier models in 1998, and have only just had to replace the valves. Ensemble now manufacture an hybrid integrated amplifier, and an hybrid power amplifier. www.ensembleaudio.com/

Good video But why are you wearing your shoes inside??

You need to listen to all tube amps at or near this price range. Solid state and tube amps at this level have very few comprises. I own Class A, Class A/B, Class D and all tube amps. Horses for courses.

It's 1/2 off now on their website.

a decent amp, but in that price range, McIntosh is hard to beat and for a hybrid, the 901 of course ... you have to get into the very high end (D'Agostino) territory to find better than a McIntosh.

Jay, you video would be more effective by adding clips of the unit under review playing so we can hear the sonic signature to reinforce of what you are saying.

Jlh 1969 class a is close to the best in sound for certain speakers.Took me 50+ years in audio to come to the conclusion that money does not necessarily buy great sound.

Im an autophile and I drive a dodge 4x4 diesel with 850 foot lbs. of torque into 4 ohms.

Get lavaliere mic for your videos.

Its nice to dream. But if the day comes to win the lottery, that money could be spent wisely or wasted. Its good to know what is worth the money. Man i want to just hear a £75k system that is WORTH the money

I am an audiophile and have good equipment. To me, there's no way $9,000 x 2 = $18,000, amps are exponentially that much better than a $2000 a monoblock pair. They do get you that little bit more, but not 9 times better. No one really ever talks about this fact. These are just rich man toys, if you can afford them, have at it. I'm not down on these amps at all, they are very good. Thank you Jay, great video as always.

How does that amp compairs with an xpa dr1 for example,I can assume that is better,but by how much?come on you can't afford that,I think a 70 k RU-vid channel pays enough to buy that,I can't afford that

Meh use hybrid pre amp where tube is just stage oscillator and solid state AB class amplifier & you saved 17K. For 2K you can build speakers that you can't buy no matter of the price tag. It's entirely untrue tubes can't give good representation of low bass. That's entirely on tubes used. There ware marbles tubes and they still can be obtained.

The damping factor is only 100.

U only need this if u want to start a second life in the clubbing industry... I mean after the pandemic shaky period. Ibiza is waiting for us ! Thx for the speakers prices to pair this with mate, but why ? As I now you tried DIY, so what does it mean then ? And what about second market ? Ok not the basic 2 way speakers you buy on Amazon, let's put it this way maybe ? But a good 900$ DIY speaker... oh yes, lets do it !!! Or maybe these new out of phase but funny 4000$ Tekton Moab ? Yep, seems even better for Ibiza.

Overpriced. I’ve also used this behemoth of an amplifier, talk about inconvenience. Maybe you should consider reviewing a Benchmark AHB2. And for the money... And even higher power applications, I think you should also consider reviewing Crown iTech and DCN amplifiers.

Ferrari wheel in a honda civic 🤣. Lets try it 🤘

Not a winning argument with my so. " I don't need it specifically, but I want it".

So,.cancel my order for Ferrari wheels for my Honda Civic? I mean, that's what I heard...

And pay for the name brand!

Dude! HOW are you getting access to $70K+ equipment? Giant Trust Fund, lol! Also, I've driven a High Performance car in normal traffic. They're NOT designed for that. Too much power and speed. They are essentially RACING MACHINES. Great ones that are irritatingly overpowering for everyday driving.

Not telling which speakers performed well with what speakers is not giving useful info.

Too much non sense. Most people do not know ps audio and let alone what amp does. Your audience is audiophile and don't talk about Fararri analogy. Talk more about the amp itself and how it compares to other amps in yourshop

How much does it cost?? Well I think you could do it a lot cheaper if you bought a good quality valve preamp and a good quality solid state power amps you might even achieve better. Ferrari really ugly cars made by Fiat. now a Koenigsegg is more my cup of tea and it's electric fastest car in the world there's some good engineering match better than a Ferrari Fiat what break down on you

Design sucks though.. At least a Ferrari both sounds, and looks good..

This is the kind of shit that's reminds me why I never want to consider calling myself a audiophile.