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This vintage PS Audio amp sits in the “interesting collector piece” lane rather than the everyday used-market lane, and the asking price is ambitious against recent AUD comparables. At A$3,640, it lands well above the A$2,547 75th percentile and far above the A$1,003 median, so this is not a bargain-priced buy.
What makes it appealing is the rarity factor and the appeal of an early Paul McGowan-era PS Audio piece for someone who values provenance as much as sound. The upside is strongest if it’s genuinely clean, fully original, and serviced properly, because a well-kept example can be a rewarding statement amp; just make sure transformer health, noise, channel balance, and any repair history are clear before paying top-tier money.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
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.
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