Ps Audio BHK preamp Vs ARC best preamps

I have (almost) all PS Audio gear, and when I got the Directstream Jr DAC I was planning on it replacing the integrated amp I was using at the time by running it directly to my amps.  While accurate in the mid & high end, I found the sound very thin and lacking in bass.  I added the BHK Pre and the sound improved all around.  I can't explain why another component in the chain added to the sound in such a profound way, but it did.  I can't comment on ARC, but I can speak to PS Audio, and in my experience the addition of the pre to their DAC was most certainly an improvement (and frankly necessary in my system, as the DAC alone would have been insufficient).

Seems like the older pre amplifier designs are really substrative to the sound. It is my experience also.

Newer design are better, still I think ARC, Ayre and some other brands are asking just too much money for their top gun pres nowadays... just insane amounts when we think of it.

shiner,  Paul McGowan said he had the same experience and that he couldn't explain it either.

Ok, my BHK is on the way, I will let you know...

In the meantime...grazie!


Mario

I've owned the LS27. It was decent in my system. I now own the BHK pre and for me it was a step up. In particular when paired with the PS Audio phono stage, it brought more life to my vinyl rig then I've ever heard. Joe