PS Audio Stellar M1200 Power Amp

jdjohn

And just like that, PSA delivers a power amp with a tube front-end, and Class D back-end, with 600WPC into 8 ohms, and 1200WPC into 4 ohms.
$6,000 for a pair https://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-m1200-power-amplifier/

audioluvr

Risk free in home trial! Take your old amps in on trade at full retail! 12AU7 pre driver tubes!

Tempting...

jdjohn

Up to $1800 trade-in value for your old gear. They are pretty liberal with original MSRP.

displayname

I think these were actually announced a few months back. Already a set on Audiogon actually.
I do think it's interesting how much PS Audio is committing to class D. And this new tube buffer is kind of a trickle down from the BHK line of amps. I haven't used any of their gear enough to have an opinion on it, but they do a great job marketing their stuff. Deep product line that has a very obvious customer growth journey hitting pretty much every price point with the ability to mix and match.

Their biggest downside is the direct to consumer model. The return program helps a ton, but it's just a bummer that the only way to hear them is to find a current owner or put some money out of pocket. Hopefully they come up with some sort of event schedule once the world opens up a little more.

JayCee

displayname wrote: »

I think these were actually announced a few months back.

Yes, these have been in public hands since March. For anyone interested here's the initial thread from beta to production. https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-m1200-mono-beta-test/15750

My takeaway is the M1200 provides exceptional dynamics but it's still the Stellar line, so not on the level of a BHK. Little direct comparisons. Would be interesting to listen to both. Supposedly, there are industry reviews in the works.

I'm a BHK owner (+Directstream DAC) and am very happy. Purchased everything prior to their switch to direct sales and paid nowhere near MSRP. I Recently went on a tube buying spree and am rolling NOS tubes.

invalid

I heard on another site that the BHK amps don't fair too well with hard to drive speakers. I don't know if this is true, but if it is then the stellar m1200 might be a better alternative.

JayCee

Not sure, either. I'm pushing uber modded 1.2tl's and have no issues w/the 250 keeping up. Swapped out the SDA inductor with the HUGE 16 mH Solen and I'm also running the 1000 VA dreadnought. My XO's are upgraded to the same as @DarqueKnight. Can't remember what load an amp sees with them...Ray, are the modded 1.2tl's a hard to drive speaker after the mods?

mhardy6647

Given my long-time line of work, I cannot see the letters "BHK" and not think of Baby Hamster Kidney cells. Those have been used, over the years, for the production of numerous (potential) therapeutic proteins, particularly in the early years of monoclonal antibody therapeutic development.

DarqueKnight

JayCee wrote: »

Can't remember what load an amp sees with them...Ray, are the modded 1.2tl's a hard to drive speaker after the mods?

My modded 1.2TL's are equivalent to a 4 ohm load. No issues at all with any of the 4 ohm rated amps I have used. Same goes for my modded SDA SRSs.

joecoulson

I can imagine that adding the tube to the mix will help in presenting a certain character to the sound and the extra power helps to avoid the strain on class D during transients (of which there looks to be plenty on tap).
I would think these are a solid upgrade over the M700’s I used to own.

Clipdat

Ken Redmond's review of these just got posted: https://theaudiobeatnik.com/review-ps-audio-m1200-monoblock-amplifier/

mhardy6647

That was interesting.
Cool to see that he uses Charles King's tape recorder head amp/EQ.
Good stuff.