BETA
RADAR is in beta — expect errors. Accuracy and coverage improvements are shipping daily.
LIVE
Waiting for new listings…
0 other audiophiles online

Our Thoughts RADAR AI

At US$1,899, this sits above the US$1,824 75th percentile of your recent comps, so it reads as ambitious rather than fair on pure market pricing. It is not wildly out of line for a desirable current-production preamp, but it is clearly asking for a premium over the usual used market, where the median is US$850.

The upside is that this is a well-regarded, modern PS Audio preamp class piece: typically strong on transparency, control, and system flexibility, with the kind of sonic cleanliness that makes it easy to live with in a serious rig. If it’s complete, clean, and from a careful owner, that helps justify paying near top-of-market; just make sure the included remote, power supply, and any factory accessories are present, because at US$1,899 you want a turnkey example rather than a partial one.

Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.

About PS Audio

PS Audio, a pioneering American hi-fi brand, traces its roots to 1973 when co-founder Paul McGowan launched the company in California alongside Stan Warren. Emerging from the analog golden age, it debuted with a standalone phono preamplifier, reflecting McGowan's early passion for vinyl playback honed through radio station connections and encounters with audio enthusiasts. The brand quickly evolved, embracing digital audio in the 1980s by releasing one of the first high-end CD players, the PS Audio CD-1, soon after Philips and Sony introduced the format.

Today, PS Audio specializes in premium electronics, including power amplifiers, preamplifiers, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and integrated amplifiers, with a hallmark focus on power conditioning via innovative AC regenerators known as Power Plants. These devices, born from Stan Warren's mid-1980s discovery that oversized transformers enhance audio performance, remain a cornerstone. The lineup also encompasses digital lenses for refining streaming and disc playback, alongside select analog components, though it eschews speakers, headphones, turntables, or cables.

Positioned firmly in the high-end market, PS Audio commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its bold engineering and unwavering pursuit of musical purity. Celebrating 50 years in 2023, it occupies a niche as an innovator rather than a mass-market player, appealing to buyers who prioritize transformative power delivery and digital refinement in sophisticated systems.

See all PS Audio listings on RADAR.

More PS Audio listings