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This is a seller’s market for vintage PS Audio power amps right now, but this asking price is still ambitious rather than outrageous. At A$3,640, it sits well above the AUD median of A$1,105 and even beyond the 75th percentile of A$2,566, so you’re paying a premium here rather than landing a bargain.
That said, it’s a historically interesting first PS Audio power amp, rated at 70 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 140 into 4, with the kind of early-PS Audio cachet that appeals to collectors and serious vintage buyers. If the example is genuinely clean, original, and fully serviced, the rarity angle can justify some extra spend; just make sure the amp’s condition, originality, and service history are documented, because at this price those details matter a lot.
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.
See all PS Audio listings on RADAR.
