Review : PS Audio HCA 2 amplifier

I have this amp also, and like every other new component I've owned, I had to do a little tweaking to make things work right. This amp is capable of excellent sonics, but you need a high quailty power cord to achieve it. I started with a Mini Lab Cable and then upgraded to a Lab Cable which was a worthwhile improvement. With the stock cord it tended to be harsh, and was particularly revealing of poor quality recordings or close-miked vocals.

Then in my pursuit of greater performance, I purchased an FIM 880 outlet based on all the rave reviews by Audiogon members on these discussion threads. The FIM was HORRIBLE with the HCA-2. Bright, grainy, just awful. It started out almost OK, but as it broke-in it got progressively worse. I finally took it out of the system in favor of a PS Audio Power Port and the harshness vanished on all except the worst recordings. I'm currently waiting for a Jena Labs cryo'd outlet to arrive for further testing, and possible improvement. As was mentioned above, this amp is very sensitive to the quality of the power used.

The HCA-2 is very detailed and revealing, and it revealed a lot of problems on my CD's. Auric Illuminator made a significant difference in removing some of the digital glare, and I'm getting ready to test Mapleshade's Mikro-Smooth. However, female vocals, with the exception of a few close-miked recordings, are a strong suit of this amp. So the results you describe would suggest to me there are other areas in need of improvement. Also, I find the soundstage to be exceptionally deep, though a little narrow running my Wadia CD direct. However, the soundstage widens nicely with a preamp. My soundstage is also slightly above ear level (I believe yours was slightly low), and I believe the speakers could account for this difference as opposed to just the amp.

If you bought an early model HCA-2 (identified with a C or D in the serival number), PS Audio has a free upgrade that makes a subtle, but worthwhile, sonic improvement. It's described on their web site in one of the discussion threads.

As to the other problems you mentioned, I'm not having the same experience, so you really may have something else wrong. As I said, it has taken me a while to get the synergies right with this amp, so you may need to look at the entire set-up, but power.

Finally, our personal reference frame accounts for a lot of the differences in opinion on components on this site. My friend's high quality tube system is very soft on top compared to mine. When I hear it I miss all the inner detail that my sytem has. I used to have an Arcam ss amp that was soft in this area too (albeit very listenable). So where you're coming from can make a difference. I'm willing to bet that all of those guys who raved about the FIM outlet listened to tube amps, because if you had an HCA-2 or a Pass amp, for example, it would just make it too bright.

Out of the box, this amp was harsh, but after a long break-in period and the other tweaks I mentioned (especially the Lab Cable) the results are quite different. It may never be the amp for you, but it should also NOT sound the way you describe it.

My system consists of a Wadia 301 running CD direct into the HCA-2 using AQ Anaconda XLR interconnects. Speakers are Soliloquy 6.5's (which the HCA-2 drives with ease).

Wrong Ligi,

Most of those units are B-Stock units that were used for Beta testing or they are in-store demo's.

Kchahoc, I do think some of the problem could be your preamp and your speakers, neither of which is bad. I just think there is a synergistic mismatch. The B&W's are probably on the bright side of neutral to begin with and you are combining the amp with a SS pre.

I am using a tube pre and the results are simply stunning. I must state right away that I have used a Virtual Dynamics power cord from day one. These cords have made big improvements on all of my components, so this may indeed support Tim's point about digital amps. Bel Canto and Spectron do recommend good power cords.

I just finished listening to Mephisto - Tam o' Shanter, Minnesota Orchestra. The dynamics are room shaking. The tympanis and bass drum are simply amazing. The sense of space is hard to believe. The drums are 20 ft. behind my front wall and the sound is just huge with layers upon layers.

The triangles and xylophone in Resphigi - Solomon's Dream, even when combined with the heavy drum run, sound like they are in the room with me. Just beautiful tones. As the music moves into the string section one can clearly hear the resonant body of the instruments.

In my system there is no upper mid-range glare at all. Very smooth and sweet. The palpability is just jaw dropping. Diana Krall's voice on Love Scenes is so rich and soulful with all of that huskiness that she exhibits. And the details are so evident, it seems nothing is left out. You can easily hear every nuance of her licking her lips, the saliva upon her opening her mouth and even her swallows.

Even a very poorly recorded "Best of James Taylor" sounds very good on some tracks. The imaging, presence and air are all rather remarkable considering the source. The high frequencies are just tipped up, as they often are on many poorly recorded pop albums, to make low-fi systems sound better. This is the only instance where the mid-range has sounded thin, but it is very obviously the result of the recording.

To be honest, I never expected this amp to be this good when I ordered it for an audition. It is an incredibly musical amp with no fatigue factor whatsoever. I am impressed with it more each day as the hours build on it.

The soundstage depth and layering is excellent and the air around instruments and voices truly creates that "you are there" experience. IMHO, this amp is a true bargain. Man, as I sit hear listening, the drum run in the opening minute of Resphigi - War Dance, just blows your hair back.

Sorry, lost my focus here for a minute, but the music is just hard to ignore while I type.

As I was saying, I am thrilled with this amp. It is the first PS Audio product I have owned and I congratulate them on an outstanding product at a real world price.

Aloha,

Warren

BTW, I have communicated by email with another HCA-2 owner who said his amp has never bloomed and still sounds constrained. But once again, I think his situation is system dependent, as well. He admitted he has been having some problems with his front end, he's using a SS pre also and he has not tried any other excellent power cords on his amp.

I have experienced no hum, hiss, etc. I have to put my ear to my ribbons just to hear the slightest hiss and I am sure that is tube hiss from my preamp.

Hey, what works for one may not work for all, but I just wanted to balance Kchahoc's lackluster experience with what I have heard from this amp. And I reiterate, I think this amp, as all digital amps do, requires a good power cord and probably a good tube preamp as well, to really strut it's stuff.

Sorry for the brief and hurried review, but I am late already. Will try to post additional info later.

Not wrong! A friend picked up a NIB not B stock for 1100 - it sounds horrible - I couldn't believe how bad it comes across. I was hoping it would be great because I would have bought one for my bedroom system. If you have to upgrade cords, interconnects, speaker cables then it would be better to buy a better amp.

I tried the Mark Levinson 390s direct into the amp with out the Proceed PRE and achieved mostly the same results. I only used the preamp so I could match levels and have a base line, but also to use SACD as a refrence. I've had bright sounding amps around here and the PS Audio amp is not exactly bright, if anything a little rolled off at the extremes. My problem is with the midrange and the buzz. I think too that the amp can work in another system, and after all, this is only one experience. What the buzz reminded me of was horn speakers with not so quiet tubes like my dad used to have.
Have a good day,

What's a better amp, Ljgj ?

An Electrocompaniet 120 ? :)

Aloha,

Warren