PS Audio BHK Signature Hybrid Tube Preamplifier - Complete and Upgraded

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This PS Audio BHK Signature preamp is like new and complete with the original box, manual, remote, and accessories.

Also incudes the original tubes which were carefully and fully tested here in our shop.

MSRP is $6599

Be sure to check out our matching BHK Signature Hybrid Amplifier by clicking here.

Tube Notes:
• This preamp is fitted with a pair of Tungsram PCC88 / 7DJ8 tubes that were originally sourced from Upscale Audio. They were both tested in our modern professional Amplitrex AT1000 tube tester and tested strong and well balanced. A great set of tubes.
• Also included are the original Psvane 12AU7.

From a Stereophile review by Jim Austin:
"PS Audio's BHK Signature preamp is one of the finest audio components I've had in my home. It didn't raise the dead, but it could conjure in my listening room the spirits of dead musicians, or fine facsimiles thereof. It didn't solve my problems, but it could sure distract me from them—and, with the right recordings, even trigger catharsis or philosophical insight."

Click below to add our recommended matching cables from Kimber Kable, all brand new as SkyFi is an official Kimber dealer.

Ascent Series Hero Analog Interconnects (PAIR) - RCA Ultraplate or WBT Connectors

Ascent Series Hero Analog Interconnects (PAIR) - BALANCED XLR Connectors

Kimber Kable - Base Series PK14 Power Cord - Brand New

More from PS Audio:
Preamplifiers are at the heart of any high-performance music system. They are the critical controlling interface between our sources of music and our loudspeaker chain.

Most preamplifiers do a fine job of control and isolation, but only a rare handful make magic happen.

Add the BHK Signature Preamplifier into your system and suddenly you are enveloped in a wealth of musicality you’ve not yet experienced: deeper, wider, sound staging, improved separation of instruments and voices, subterranean bass, extended highs, and an openness you’re unlikely to have experienced without this instrument in the system.

DESIGN
The BHK Signature Preamplifier features two 12AU7 dual triode vacuum tubes in the input stage that act as a zero feedback balanced input amplification pair. A combination of an input stepped attenuator, built around the highest quality passive components for coarse volume adjustments, coupled with controlling the actual gain of the vacuum tube for finer steps, turned out to be the most sonically transparent level control we have yet heard. Finally, the output stage is a high-bias class A MOSFET design that is unaffected by cable and power amplifier interface challenges.

APPLICATION
Preamplifiers play a critical role in any separates audio system, strategically positioned between sources of music: CD players, phono preamps, DACs, tape recorders and tuners—and your power amplifier—the preamp serves essential roles of control and isolation. The BHK Signature Preamplifier features 5 identical balanced and single ended inputs, and converts all input signals into a balanced signal for the lowest possible distortion, and can be used in a two-channel audio system or as part of a home theater system. The high-bias Class A MOSFET output stage ensures unmatched performance with any cable and amplifier interface.

"The BHK Signature Preamplifier is one of the most remarkable musical instruments in the world. It is the perfect interface between your sources and power amplifier. Designed by Bascom H. King, the BHK Signature distills Bascom’s 50 plus years of high-end audio design experience into a single masterpiece of audio amplification. “This is the best sounding preamplifier I have ever designed or heard,” and that’s saying a lot for a man of Bascom’s experience. Preamplifiers play a critical role in any separates audio system, strategically positioned between sources of music: CD players, phono preamps, DACs, tape recorders and tuners – and your power amplifier – the preamp serves essential roles of control and isolation. Control is simple in concept, but extraordinarily difficult to design in an acoustically transparent manner. Control duties such as input switching, volume, balance, and amplification can place unwanted acoustic thumbprints on the music if not designed with extraordinary care. The challenge in any design is to do as little damage to music’s purity as possible. What our Master Designer, BHK, has built will not only stand the test of time, but represents one of the finest musical instruments ever built to honor the music."

PS Audio BHK Signature Hybrid Tube Preamplifier Specifications:

Physical
Unit Weight: 22 lbs [9.97 kg]
Unit Dimensions: 17” x 14” x 4” [ 36cm x 43cm x 10cm]
Shipping Weight: 31 lbs [14 kg]
Shipping Dimensions: 20.5”x 24” x 10” [52cm x 61cm x 25cm]

Power requirements
Input Power: Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz
Power Consumption: 60W

Audio inputs
Coaxial RCA single ended: 5
XLR Balanced: 5

Input Impedance: 33KΩ minimum
Unbalanced (RCA): 66KΩ minimum
Balanced (XLR) 

Sensitivity:
Unbalanced: 1.3V/33KΩ
Balanced: 1.3V/66KΩ

Audio Outputs
Coaxial RCA single ended: 2
XLR Balanced: 2

Analog Audio Output
Output level: 4.0 Vrms
Output Impedance: <100Ω
Frequency Response 20-20KHz: +/- 0.1dB
THD & IM @ 1KHz (full scale): <0.03%
Bandwidth: -3dB 0.1Hz – 200kHz

DC Triggers
+12V: 2

Headphone Performance
Output Power: >200mW
300Ω: 4.0 Watts
16Ω >
S/N Ratio: >90dB (1KHz)
THD & IM 1 volt out: <0.02%
Output Impedance: <0.5Ω

PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier - Owners Manual

The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

When we first power on a preamplifier we connect its RCA output to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope. We then switch to a 1KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment. Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources. If the preamp is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve. If the preamp under test has balanced inputs and/or outputs these are tested as well.

We finish up our bench testing with a listening test with our bench amplifier and reference speakers. During this test we check for hum or hiss that may not have shown up in earlier testing. We also check that all of the tone controls and filters perform as expected. If the preamplifier has remote control functions these are also tested. Preamps with tube circuits or complicated power supply topologies are connected at our long term test rig for extended stress testing under real world conditions.