Expired
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Compared with the obvious alternative at this level — a cleaner used preamp around the £657 median — £1,595 is firmly ambitious, and it sits well above even the £930 75th percentile. It’s not a bargain-priced buy; you’re paying a premium, so the case for it has to rest on condition, provenance, and any extras rather than price alone.
That said, this is a respected Stellar-series preamp, and PS Audio gear is generally valued for a smooth, open presentation with good control and strong system integration. If the unit is genuinely clean, fully working, and comes with the right accessories, it can still make sense for someone chasing a serious preamp without stepping into new-price territory. At this asking level, though, I’d want confirmation of condition and included bits before calling it an easy yes.
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.
