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

I remember that thread well and puzzled about it. I’ve never had any problem in driving either the 1.7i or 3.7i with the BHK Signature 250 and wondered to myself if 1. the LRS can be that difficult a load or 2. if there was a problem with the speaker itself. In any event, the starter of that thread rendered the discussion moot when he bought a pair of 1.7i’s. I can only go by my experience with the 250 and my 1.7i and 3.7i’s.

There should be no problem with the 250 and the LRS. Maybe quite possible that the owner had the wiring backwards or something. Or one of the speakers or 25o has something defective. I would say many people buying $650 speakers may even be using A/V receivers, or something more economical than the 250. 

But there was a problem, and PSA both didn’t dispute and couldn’t explain. The amp was sent in to PSA for exam and possible repair and still repeatedly failed to be able to drive LRS on return.

Many on that forum that is monitored by PSA CEO and engineers stated similar “it should work” statements, but alas, it couldn’t drive that speaker for whatever reason. Something about the impedance curve of that speaker apparently is incompatible with BHK 250 when driven hard. At low/ moderate levels it was ok, but everyone needs to crank it now and then......

If it were able to drive the speaker, surely PSA would have forked over the $650 to acquire the speaker, tested and reported on the success to stem the embarrassing discussion. That never happened.

Now to keep in context it is fair to point out that is an unlikely pairing in real life. But it is also apparently untrue to say the amp can drive basically any pair of speakers, as the lowly Maggie LRS provide a humble counterexample

I agree there was a problem.  But, to the best of my recollection, whether or not the problem lay with that pair of LRS speakers was not investigated.  The problem was cured when they were replaced, however, with a pair of 17i's, which technologically are very similar to the the LRS's.  Again, I've had no issues driving my 1.7i's or 3.7i's with the 250.

Yes, that is true that the owner did not send his LRS to PSA so they could test.

What I am saying is that if the 250 were able to handle the LRS, I suspect PSA would just have purchased LRS, tested, and if positive result reported it on that thread to put the embarrassing incident to bed. Or same with any of the hundreds of 250 owners who followed that thread. Easy to do if they wanted to end all of that embarrassing discussion, if the 250 was up to it (perhaps it is, but nobody has claimed or demonstrated it to my knowledge).


i should clarify I am not anti-BhK and generally speaking it is really well thought of sonically for the price. As long as speakers aren’t difficult load probably great choice. But if speakers are difficult load, maybe dig deeper before purchase if used or buy new and test under their return policy