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Are you looking for a vintage preamp with unusually strong phono flexibility? At US$550, this is a strong deal: it sits well below the comparable-listing median of US$800 and above the US$470 lower quartile, making it attractively priced rather than merely fair.
The 5.0 has a good reputation for a detailed, versatile analog presentation, and its MM/MC phono section—with loading and capacitance adjustments—can be especially valuable to vinyl users. The separate outboard supply is part of the design, not a missing component, and should help keep power-supply noise away from the audio circuitry. Given the stated excellent working condition, this looks like a worthwhile buy, provided the buyer confirms both phono channels, selector switches, volume control, and the dedicated supply cable operate cleanly.
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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