DartZeel CTH-8550 vs PS Audio BHK 300 Mononlocks

Have never heard Dart gear so can’t help with comparison. All I can add is that when designing the BHK’S they made a solid state input stage and a tube one and planned to offer both. The tube was so far superior they canned the SS option.

I really like having tubes in my system, where they can do the most good- pre Amp and input stage of Amp, and of course offer the option of tube rolling to upgrade the sound or tailor to you liking.

I havent heard the BHK pre- but many people seem to like it. I belive PS offers 30 day trial, so that could be an advantage. The ultimate of course is if you could arrange to have the Dart gear on loan at the same time, and then you’d be the resident expert on the merits of each.

Another consideration is cabling.  monoblocks let you run short (hence cheaper) speaker cable.  A good balanced design should sound good even with super cheap balanced IC like the Mogami gold mic cable.  That could be upgraded later if you find the cash and hear a benefit. 

Keep this between just us.... I run a well over $100k system and I use that cheap Mogami  cable and a short quad run combo of cheap and homemade speaker cable.  

at a good used price(under12k) i would buy the dart and never look back. a truly great designer whose products will outlive us all. i’m sorry but i can’t consider PSA in the same universe. IMO

Agree with @4425 PSA is ok nothing great but the Dart is spectacular! 

i'm a darTZeel guy for 16 years. it always sounds special and the designs are minimalist and get out of the way of the musical nuance. the longer you listen to it the more you appreciate it.

notice that darTZeel is an 'end-game' place for many. i've spent time with the CTH-8550 and it's an excellent pre and amplifier.