PS Audio

PS Audio is an American company specializing in the creation of hi-fi audio components, also known as high-end audio equipment for audiophiles. The company has switched owners during the 1990s, and is currently focusing on the production of audio amplifiers, power related products, preamplifiers and cables.

Corporate history

Founded in 1974, PS Audio was started by audio designers Paul McGowan (the P) and Stan Warren (the S). Stan Warren left the company in the early 1980s to form Superphon (still recognized as having created some good sounding but affordable audio equipment), and his place as audio designer and co-owner was taken over by Dr. Bob Odell, an audio designer himself, having created some of the notable Harmon Kardon designs (back when they made higher quality equipment). McGowan left the company in 1990 to join Arnie Nudell of Infinity systems in building High End loudspeakers with Genesis Technologies.

In early 1998, PS Audio Inc. ceased operations due to financial problems. Shortly thereafter, Paul McGowan bought back the name 'PS Audio', and has been the principal designer for new products.

In January 1999, Paul left Genesis Technologies to devote full time to PS Audio. In the first quarter of 2000, the new PS Audio International grew at such a rapid rate that Peter Rudy was added as President of the corporation.

One unique characteristic of PS Audio is that Paul McGowan or another employee will usually answer any question posed from anyone about a current or past PS Audio product. One simply needs to post a question on the PS audio discussion forum or the Audio Asylum PS audio discussion board. This customer based focus has endeared many to PS audio.

Historic products (pre-1998)

PS Audio manufactured amplifiers, preamplifiers, digital to analog converters and CD turntables.

Amplifiers included the 250 Delta monoblock and the 100 Delta amplifier.

Modern products (post-2000)

PS Audio's modern incarnation first focused on power products, then various high end cables, and finally to amplifiers, preamplifiers and integrated amplifiers.

The P-300 power "regenerator" was the first modern product from PS audio. It was designed to produce up to 300 watts of clean power to connected audio equipment. The P-300 had a digital sine wave stored in memory, which it passed through a digital to analog converter and then amplified to 117V (adjustable) at a frequency of 60 Hz (adjustable). Thus, connected equipment was provided with a precise 117V, 60 Hz power signal (in the USA, other countries had units for their specific voltage and frequency) lacking noise from the utility company. The P-300 provided, in theory, perfect noise fee power of the same specifications that the power company should be providing. Various additional "waves" known as "multiwave" were also provided.

The P-300 is a historically important product in high end audio as it helped redefine and popularize the Power Conditioner product category and spawned imitation. This even though companies such as Accuphase had already introduced the concept of power regeneration (though not additional waves, i.e., "multiwave" which PS audio claimed provided additional benefits).

More powerful models of the P-300 were introduced. The P-500 and P-1000 provided up to 500 and 1000 watts of "clean" power to connected equipment.

For high end cables, PS audio offered the "Lab" cable line which was replaced by the "Lab II" line, which was replaced by the "XStream" cable line.

PS audio offered the PCA II preamplifier. This was discontinued and replaced with the GCP-200 preamplifier. Each had an optional phono stage and external power supply option.

For amplifiers, PS audio offered the HCA-2 "digital" amplifier. This was a switching amplifier (many would call this a Class D Amplifier) that provide about 150 watts per channel. A more conventional amplifier, the Classic 250, provided 250 Watts per channel. These amplifiers were discontinued and the follow-on amplifiers were all "digital" type amplifiers from the GCA line, which had flexibility in the number of channels or number of watts per channel desired.

References

* [http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/741/index.html 1995 Review of the 200C Power amplifier from Stereophile Magazine]
* [http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_6_4/ps-audio-power-plant-300.html 1999 Review of the P-300 from "Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity" web magazine]
* [http://www.stereophile.com/accessoryreviews/181/ 1999 Review of the P-300 in Stereophile Magazine]
* [http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/ps-audio-multiwave-11-2000.html 2000 Review of the P-300 and P-600 from "Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity" web magazine]
* [http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/729/index.html 2002 Review of the HCA-2 Power amplifier from Stereophile Magazine]
* [http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/106ps/ 2006 Review of the GCC-100 Integrated (Control) Amplifier from Stereophile Magazine]
* [http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/psaudio5/ppp.html 2007 Review of the Power Plant Premier (AC Regenerator) from 6moons]

External links

* [http://www.psaudio.com/ PS Audio web site]