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PS Audio BHK 250 - Is it still a good amp?

I want to move away from tube power amps, but not tubes in source components.
Have read so much good about the BHK 250, but it’s an old lady now, and I wounder if there is something better out there for the same money.

This is what I want form a new amp.
  • Power to drive any speaker
  • Sound that reassembly tubes
  • In the same price range as the BHK

My current speakers are the Tekton DI, 4 ohm with a sensitivity of 96db. Would like to have a amp that can drive a 87 db speaker.
I also don’t want think about replacing expensive tubes, and live with the heat the generate.
There are many used BHK 250 in the states, But I live in Denmark and there are not many used BHK's in Europe

I would like to thank the audiogon community for there knowledge and there willingness to share and help, your are the best (:Just hope that we will get an updated platform to work on. The Audiogon software is so yesterday.
Wish you all a Happy New Year
martin-andersen
gryphongryph
393 posts
 
I think the 250 could be an end game amp for many people, only caveat for people who like to change equipment often is the dumping of prices that PS Audio often do, make it difficult to know the real prices on their equipment.
larryrs
132 posts
 
I haven't seen that with any of the BHK stuff.  I suspect that since PS Audio is now selling direct only price stability is going to be the norm.  I would agree that the 250 can be an end game amp for many, especially if you don't need the grunt that the BHK Signature 300 monoblocks can provide.  I replaced a 250 with a pair of 300's in a system with Magnepan 3.7i's and its just goodest on top of gooder than anything else I'd had in those systems.  The 300's joined the party only because they showed up used at a really good price locally.
unsound
7,335 posts
 
I have my doubts about the BHK 250 having; “the power to drive any speaker”. The specs indicate power down to 4 Ohms, and being stable for musical transients into 2 Ohms. “Being stable” only suggests that it won’t go into oscillation, not how much power, at what distortion levels or quality of sound it will provide at less than 4 Ohms. “Musical transients” suggests that it will only be “stable” for brief moments. Speakers with steady low impedances might be problematic for this amp.
larryrs
132 posts
 
I can tell you that the BHK Signature 250 will drive both the Magneplanar 1.7i’s and 3.7i’s to some pretty loud levels with no problems. Both are described by Magnepan as 4 Ohm speakers. I have used the 250 in systems with both. I’m not sure what speaker would provide a problematic load for the 250, but I can say its isn’t either of those. Right now I’m listening to Duke Ellington/Johnny Hodges "Back to Back" using the 250 driving the 1.7i’s and it sounds great to me.
aberyclark
1,371 posts
 
I highly suggest buying used OR check and see if any old dealers have a demo, old stock, or trade-in. The unfortunate thing about the current BHK, one could get at a huge discount before PSA went direct. Thus, any resale value would be dismal if you purchased a new one thru PSA without any substantial discount (I would not do a trade in unless it was a component that would be quite difficult to re-sell via used market). I have a BHK pre that is fantastic. I will eventually resale it for a McIntosh c2700 if funds permit. Since I got a huge discount, my resale hit will not be so bad.
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