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At US$399, this is a bit pricey for a PS Audio 4.5 unless it’s exceptionally clean, recently serviced, and complete; comparable vintage PS Audio pieces and listings tend to sit well below that level, with the 4.5/4.6 family typically trading more in the few-hundred-dollar range than near US$400. If this one is truly untested or condition is unknown, I’d call the ask ambitious rather than a bargain.
The appeal is real: the 4.5 is a respected late-’80s preamp with a strong following for its phono stage and lively, musical presentation, and a good example can still be very enjoyable in a vintage system. The upside is best when it’s been recapped or checked over, because age-related issues like noisy switches, tired electrolytics, and flaky jacks are the main things to watch on these.
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.
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