PS Audio 6.1 preamp

sucks2beme

Not a lot of reviews.
Any good? Passive or active modes available.
Local one has come up available.

agfrost

I am a fan of PSA preamplifiers and own a PSA 5.0 myself.

There seems to be some online sentiment that things went somewhat downhill after the 5.0. This may be in part due to the phono stage, which is very nice in the 5.0 but diminished or absent in the 6-series. I've also read that the gold-colored "buttons" are electronic and not mechanical in nature, and have caused some issues for some, especially if you have issues with static electricity in your house.

Paul McGowen (the "P" in PS Audio) himself said on AudioAsylum that "the 6.1 was a "ok" sounding preamp.", which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, is it?

The "straightwire" mode is where the sweet spot lies, and does an excellent job in my pre of allowing it to get out of the way and let your source shine without coloration. I'd certainly be tempted to play with it at the price its at (assuming I've seen the same ad you have), especially if the price is negotiable.

Report back with a review if you do go for it; I, at least, would be interested in hearing your opinions.

agfrost

...additionally, there's a good chance of static in the controls at this point, which you'd want to check out (weighed against your willingness to clean them) before purchasing.