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

Paul McGowan,

What a treat to have you answer! Maybe my archrival here notified you.... My intent here was not to prove your design was flawed, but to question why certain measurements are so bad, and why some listeners don't seem to like the amp.

Considering the amps you personally own, I would agree that you don't like the sound that has been perhaps incorrectly attributed by some to your design. Actually the amps you mention are very good pieces and I have owned a Power 2 and a VT-100 Mk II, so I am familiar with their sound. If the HCA-2 has many of their attributes, then it may be a great sounding piece.

If you would address the test results of Mr. Atkinson, I think many would appreciate that here.

Kevziek, WOW what a major suck-up! I think Fiddler was right about you all along.
I have been asking some of the same questions since reading Stereophile, but not in such an obnoxious manner. It's nice to see a well reasoned response from the man whose product you questioned.
Paul, I am currently ampless and will very seriously consider your product before I buy a new amp. Thank you!

nrchy-I was thinkng the same thing but didnt post it as Ive changed my 'evil' ways!

Nrchy, WOW what a vacuous response! The questions I asked were hardly obnoxious. Major suck-up? No, just being nice to the designer. The major suck-ups to PS were accomplished by Fiddler, the self-proclaimed defender of the PS universe. If you want to read obnoxious, read Fiddler's comments about me on audio asylum under PS Forums.

To save everyone the trouble of having to go to the PS Audio Forum, I will graciously post my "suck-up" and "obnoxious" post here:

Warren Gibson

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Being a business owner myself, nothing irritates me more than for someone *to stir-up crap* online ANONYMOUSLY about a product without considering how their actions may affect a reputable company. There was a recent example where a jerk started the same type of crap about Newform Research and it reportedly cost John Meyer (the owner of Newform) tens of thousands of dollars in business. John sought recourse legally and the guy finally admitted that he was a liar and a fraud and confessed to his crimes. But much damage had already been done.

Fortunately, I am not in the audio business or own a business that is vunerable to this type of online subterfuge. But I know first hand how tough business is without some pinhead making it tougher. When I put myself in Paul's shoes, the crap that was started at Audiogon and AA really is obnoxious. The guy justs wants to look like a big shot. (He's probably very lonely).

He has no intention of buying an HCA-2, yet he thoroughly debases the HCA-2 to presumably ask about the CLASSIC 250. And does anyone really believe he is interested in buying a 250 when he trashed all of Pauls previous designs by saying, "...all of Paul McGowan's designs in the past" - had - "An upfront, technicolor upper midrange & lower treble, some harmonic thinness, & a tight, but lean bass". Seems to me he could have simply asked, "Could someone please give me their impressions of the PS Audio CLASSIC 250" without trashing the HCA-2 or Pauls previous designs.

But here's the icing on the cake, he later has the gall to ask Paul to explain (defend), "the test results of Mr. Atkinson"!

I would tell him to kiss my _ _ _ !

If the guy has no interest in buying the amp, why bother explaining it to him. If he sincerely wanted an explanation about the amp for *legitimate* reasons, he could have simply emailed or called Paul for the details.

He is simply on a power trip to try to make the designer (Paul) cow-tow to his demands of publicly explaining his design. The simple truth is, numbers don't tell the complete story. You know that, he knows that and I know that. He just wants to make noise.

Look, I don't have any problem with negative reviews. Hey, if you try a product and don't like it, fine, voice your opinion. I will be the first to support your right to do so. But it is simply wrong, petty, unethical, etc. to trash a product or a company for fun and games when you haven't even tried their product.

The goal of these boards is to provide useful information to help others. It is of no use to anyone to muck-rake and blather about an amp you haven't even heard.

I suspect that Paul's efforts to produce an amp that is this good at this price point has ruffled a few feathers. I guess when you move toward the front of the line, you become a bigger target. It would be real interesting to know if there are any hidden agendas in play here.

For what its worth, I don't know Paul, I've never spoken to Paul or anyone else at PS Audio for that matter. I am simply a satisfied customer who happens to also be a business owner. And I just get pissed when idiots play silly little games that take money out of the pockets of honest, hard-working businessmen.

Warren