PS: Typical McGowan Sound? -- HCA-2 & Classic 250

Hi Kevziek,

Not an ad for PS Audio at all- I had the choice between Musical Fidelity, Classe, Pass Labs & PS Audio- I chose the HCA-2 purely on the basis of sound- I liked what I heard even though I was looking in the $3000-$4000 range for SS power amps. Nobody has paid me to say how I felt about the HCA-2 amp. There is no pandering to advertisers- for the past number of months there are no PS Audio ads in Stereophile other than dealer classifieds.

Everyone has a right to question an equipment's design. However you seem to be more concerned with what this amp purportedly cannot do in a measurement, rather than what it CAN do in a listening test. I am sure a number of years down the road, even the Halcro amps may be subject to scrutiny when something else can perform better.

Your point about distortion is one that many fellow audiophiles fall for- in fact there has never been any solid evidence that a higher distortion (in any high quality stereo of today) causes a degradation or manipulation of sound as to make something sound so remarkably different. You would have to check out those old phonograph machines for that! Select some tube amps and you will agree that measurements differ- stats are helpful but not entirely reliable, especially in high-end audio. It is of course unfair to compare a tube amp to the HCA-2. They are two different models. It is equally unfair to compare the HCA-2 amp to other SS amps. JA's measurements were designed specifically with analog in mind, and not digital; the HCA-2 is a different amp altogether and should be compared directly with other Class D digital amps.

If you want a second opinion on distortion and measurements regarding the HCA-2 check out:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_2/ps-audio-hca-2-power-amplifier-6-2002.html

JA's concern is obvious because ever since he started measurements in Stereophile in the late 80s, there was always some need out there to justify how numbers may determine the way equipment sounds. The HCA-2 is a new breed of amps that JA has never encountered before and so the numbers are somewhat startling- how can an amp with this amount of distortion sound so good? The answer is simple- when an amp switches on and off a half million times a second, and generates very little heat, traditional analog measurements simply won't do.

Nothing in high-end equipment tests is comforting-something new always comes along to capture the spotlight- the only comfort is the proof in listening. High-end audio can be subjective- the more so when we read too much into reviews. The HCA-2 is an amp that reaches that critical point of diminishing returns. If it is in your budget, like I said before, try it out. See what the rave is all about. See if it is all hype. See if it justifies what JA's tests came up with. It does no good to debate in theory what it can or cannot do. Put reality to the test and then at least you will know whethre this amp is for you or not.

Happy Listening,

Zenaissance

The number of these amps on the used market is disturbing, but more disturbing is what they are being sold for, or rather, what people are willing to pay for them! These amps can be bought NEW for what folks some are buying them USED for! Hot or not, it's unreal that they can sell for over a grand used, especially since the market is flooded with them, which does make you wonder..... The measurments where awful but many people do enjoy distortion of one sort or the other.

On a related note, the Musical Fidelity gear was also raved about and had a great demo policy, yet has a stronger following by consumers, so I'm thinking the MF A3cr gear may be a better bet. Most fortunately I will have the HCA-2 and A3cr in home to demo shortly, along with an Odyssey Stratos and Parasound JC-1 monoblocks, and am pretty anxious and excited to see how they all measure up!

I find this statement rather odd.

"In looking at the responses to the Audiogon review, it is interesting to see that half the responders love it; the other half hate it."

Kevziek, your entire post seems to be a very subtle and clever attempt to bash PS Audio and the HCA-2 in particular.

If you take a broader look at opinions beyond one Audigon review, I think your 50/50 statement will evaporate. I have read every post I can find online about the HCA-2. My opinion is that from those who have *actually heard this amp* the ratio would be more like 90/10. Many of the so-called "haters", upon close inspection, haven't even auditioned this amp. They are simply responding to measurements or hearsay. Who cares about measurements, how does the damn thing sound!

My grandmother never measured a thing when she was cooking. Pinch of this and a dash of that. I would put her dishes up against anyone who used the same recipe and measured everything perfectly. I always found it funny when my sisters measured the ingredients perfectly and yet their dishes never TASTED as good as my grandmother's.

Just like cooking, I believe circuit design is as much art as it is technical execution.

If I were you I would be looking for the best *measuring* amp in the world and then live happily ever after in *measurement* bliss regardless of the sound.

BTW, I own the HCA-2 and love it.

Fiddler's comment is a typical example of the audiophile who cannot accept questioning or criticism of their beloved choice without attacking the questioner. His paranoid accusations of my engaging in "PS bashing" is quite uncalled for.

I myself own tube equipment, and I can tell you that my last two tube amps were not purchased on the basis of distortion specs; however, both of them tested on Stereophile with substantially less distortion than the HCA-2. JA's comments on the type and magnitude of the distortion it exhibited are particularly troublesome. JA specifically points out that the distortion he found indicates the amp is having a very hard time dealing with signals that other amps don't. THAT is a concern. Look at the spikes for the IM tests. They are dreadful!

Although I don't place great emphasis on measurements, I do believe that they can, and have been proven, to show gross problems with the design.

Furthermore, the sonic character described by those criticizing it (i.e. pushed too far forward in mids & lower highs, too lean midbass, brightness) have been criticisms of Paul McGowan's designs in the past. These comments seem to support this as his preference in sound. I certainly don't cherish such qualities, and wish to avoid them.

Audiogon's forums are intended as a place to foster healthy controversy and discussion, not to attack those questioning a design that you happen to own.

Fully acknowledging that a 30-day trial is a great opportunity to listen for myself.....

I really had to scratch my head when reading the Stereophile review of this amp too. If a $1700, 150 watt/ch amp is rated Class A and is seen as driving a pair of expensive, reference speakers in a manner comensurate with the Class A rating for an experienced listener, and does so with suspect meeasurements, and none of this is questionable, then a bunch of people have wasted a bunch of money on more expensive amps. This, indeed, may be the case - Class D amps may truly be the future.

Yes, there's no substitute for listening for ones self, and yes, measurements don't begin to tell the whole story, but there's certainly enough here to warrant a comment / thread without it having to be seen as a subtle slam on a manufacturer.