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Audio Amplifier Review: PSS 600 Yuri Gutsatz Realisation
This new thread will be dedicated to a review of the PSS 600 audio amplifier.
The product is distributed in Australia by NET and is manufactured in France.
When the amplifier arrived, my first impression was this amp is heavy and opening the carton revealed a well packaged product.(15 kg)
The amplifier is supplied with a quality printed manual detailing the main specifications and product features.
This model, the PSS 600 has a gain of 31 db with an input sensitivity of 1 volt, input impedance of 20k ohms, damping factor of >250 (8 ohms), distortion @1000 hz less than 0.009% and is rated at 300 watts @4 ohms, and 150 watts @8 ohms.
The chassis has a solid feel, its made of powder coated pressed steel, the front panel is designed for rack mounting and has handles to assist installation.
On the front panel is a large power switch, independent level attenuators for each channel and a row of LED's indicators ,4 red, 2 yellow, 2 blue to show the status of the amplifier.
The rear panel is populated with professional Neutrik XLR balanced inputs and Speakon output sockets.
The ventilation system is unique.
Central within the chassis is a fan which draws air in from the front and rear of the amplifier over a special aluminium extrusion containing the MJ15024 Bipolar T03 output devices.
The fan does make some background noise but this is unlikely to be a concern in a professional environment.
Taking off the top cover shows this amplifier is all about quality and precision.
The components and the manner of assembly are of a very high standard not normally found in domestic HiFi equipment. The twin power transformers are very large and the power supply has ample supply filtration.
These images give some indication of the PSS 600.
My impression is this amplifier has evolved over a long period and shows great attention to detail in its design and construction. The PSS600 solidly made and has a unique quality that can only be found in products made in Europe.
Ian Mackenzie
Some thoughts from the US...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie
If anyone would like to ask any questions or make comment please post.
I am happy to answer even theoretical questions or issues related to the review.
Ian
Well, hopefully the flames have died down from my earlier questions about how to hook this amp up to consumer gear (sheesh..what a thread). I've had adequate opportunity to audition this amp now and I'm ready to offer some of my views and opinions.
Some things to keep in mind as you read this which might prevent another outbreak of insanity:
1) I am a home user, not a music production studio. I had to buy some adapters (with my own money I might add) to give this amp a listen. Whether or not you believe they might affect the sound is up to you...
2) You cannot A/B two amps without having to spend a few minutes moving the connections between the two. It makes direct comparisons (like between CD and LP) very difficult.
3) The fan is NOISY in the home environment. I'll say this in the nicest way I can - I've been making custom PC's for about 10 years now and why this supposed wonder of European engineering and craftsmanship doesn't have a $2 thermo controlled fan (that's QUIET at idle) is way beyond me. I have to imagine that not every pro studio is going to love this extra noise either.
4) Still on the subject of cooling, shouldn't all rack-mounted devices get fresh air from the front panel and exhale is it through the rear ? This top input would be mostly blocked in a full rack and seriously impede cooling I would say.
5) It was bad enough coming from Yuri, but you too Ian ?
I quote "The PSS600 solidly made and has a unique quality that can only be found in products made in Europe. "
Does that unique quality extend to the flimsy and unsubstantial level pots on the front panel ? Or the half-baked cooling setup ? My :bs: meter is pegged....
So, how does it sound, compared to a 20-year old Yamaha pro amp through some L250's ? Very good in fact. It has great reserves of power and is very good at revealing the details of the source material. It doesn't impart any unique sound of it's own and it never misbehaved.
In other words, it's a quality transistor amp that - to me at least - does nothing special to differentiate it from the Yamaha I already have. I wanted to get into the loop on this amp eval to see if I could hear any difference between this highly regarded, state of the art studio amp, and the $200 ebay bargain I've had for years. I have to say that there wasn't much of a difference - which is good. I should be fair and say that the Yamaha was $3k in its day and is twice the amp physically that the PSS is. That the PSS compared as well as it did (being less powerful - and I drove them both hard) says a lot about Yuri's design. I'm sure he hasn't 1/1000 the resources of a large corporation
like Yamaha.
In conclusion, I'd have to say that - for me - amps are not "as signifigant as you might think" to quote Yuri. The other new addition to my system last week was a beautiful Yamaha PX-2 turntable, also from the early 80's. This $1200 (in 1981) 45lb cast aluminum wonder made a GIANT difference in sound over the Luxman PD-264 I was using (which wasn't exactly a piece of junk). I've been spinning nothing but vinyl since I got it and it may be some time before I listen to digital again. It's that good and the difference was immediate and obvious.
I do have one question for you Ian - I love that Clapton DVD too and I'm wondering how you were able to listen to a 5.1 channel DTS disc with this 2-channel amp ? Were you just listening to the PCM stereo track on the DVD ? Were you only powering the mains of your HT setup with the PSS? I'm just curious what the actual setup was....
So - who's next on the USA tour of this white wonder ? I would prefer an East Coast shipment if possible to minimize shipping costs.
jblnut
I would just like to point out that........
The amp Ian has and the one jblnut has are two different amps! Ian has the PSS600 while jblnut has the 1200!
Fans, well for me fans in bass amps are a must, and not heard over the music or ambient noise level in my enviroment!
What I can say of Yuris cooling system, drawing the air in through the top right down over the ouput transistors, is that it does work! So, regardless of whether one cares for its sonic virtues aside, the PSS1200 ran rock solid in my place for 14 hours a day, being pushed at high volumes! Amp never complained one iota!
Conversely, I have had other " famous " brand amps, that have crapped out under demanding use, and didnt live up to their lore! So, although the fan may be noisy, its neccesary for someone like me! And the PSS cooling topology does keep the amp working perfectly under demanding use!
Jus sumthin from the peanut gallery! :)