COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 213 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 213 PS Audio in the News

PS Audio in the News

PS Audio in the News

Stereophile’s Kalman Rubinson found a lot to like about the Aspen FR5 loudspeaker. He said, “It is hard to criticize the performance of the Aspen FR5s. Placement is not difficult…and they are equally satisfying with a wide variety of music. They offer excellent treble detail without brightness, fine voice delineation without emphasis, and generous bass for their size.”

He continued, “Most impressive is the FR5s' spacious soundstage, revealing tonally balanced voices and instruments with music intimate or massive. These speakers may be small, but they do not sound small…They consistently achieve one of audio's elusive goals: they disappear into the music.”

Future Audiophile has an in-depth review of the BHK Mono 600 Power Amplifier. Reviewer Greg Handy was highly impressed, noting, The PS Audio BHK Mono 600 amplifiers proved to be a noticeable addition to my system, showing off its capabilities of effortless amplification, offering an extensive and detailed sound with impressive natural timbre.”

He concluded by saying, “...if it were within the budget to step up amplifiers, the PS Audio BHK Mono 600 would be at the top of my contenders list.

Gearadical posted a highly positive review of the Aspen FR5 loudspeaker. Reviewer John Brandon called the speaker “Rich, precise, dynamic –  warm.” He noted, “Warm means transported, moved. It means the product captures both your heart and your mind.”

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity offered a detailed review of the Aspen FR5. John Johnson said, “They are truly beautiful,” and “Two of the most notable things about the sound of these speakers are the very nice planar-magnetic tweeter delivering a smooth, musical presentation, and the deep bass produced by the combination of the mid-woofer and passive radiator.” He called the planar magnetic tweeter “a breath of clarity.”

The Absolute Sound included the PS Audio StellarGold DAC and PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 in their Editors’ Choice: Best DACs $3,000 - $10,000 listings. Regarding the StellarGold DAC, TAS said, “Our big impression was of a low noise level yielding a huge soundstage with believable performer placement. Instrumental lines were well separated, as well.”

For the DirectStream DAC MK2 TAS commented, “The DirectStream sounds considerably better than its predecessor…offering tremendous resolution of soundstage info and spatial cues. Reproduction of low-level detail is also a strong suit, with very fine rendering against a jet-black background.”

More from Issue 213

View All Articles in Issue 213

Search Copper Magazine

#227 Seth Lewis Gets in the Groove With Take a Look Around: a Tribute to the Meters by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Passport to Sound: May Anwar’s Audio Learning Experience for Young People by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Conjectures on Cosmic Consciousness by B. Jan Montana Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Big Takeover Turns 45 by Wayne Robins Feb 02, 2026 #227 Music and Chocolate: On the Sensory Connection by Joe Caplan Feb 02, 2026 #227 Singer/Songwriter Chris Berardo: Getting Wilder All the Time by Ray Chelstowski Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Earliest Stars of Country Music, Part One by Jeff Weiner Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Vinyl Beat Goes Down to Tijuana (By Way of Los Angeles), Part Two by Rudy Radelic Feb 02, 2026 #227 How to Play in a Rock Band, 20: On the Road With Blood, Sweat & Tears’ Guitarist Gabe Cummins by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Audio Specs and Measuring by Paul McGowan Feb 02, 2026 #227 Our Brain is Always Listening by Peter Trübner Feb 02, 2026 #227 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Listening Chair: Sleek Style and Sound From the Luxman L3 by Howard Kneller Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society Celebrates Its 32nd Anniversary, Honoring David and Sheryl Lee Wilson and Bernie Grundman by Harris Fogel Feb 02, 2026 #227 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 26: Half Full – Not Half Empty, Redux by Ken Kessler Feb 02, 2026 #227 That's What Puzzles Us... by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Record-Breaking by Peter Xeni Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Long and Winding Road by B. Jan Montana Feb 02, 2026 #226 JJ Murphy’s Sleep Paralysis is a Genre-Bending Musical Journey Through Jazz, Fusion and More by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Stewardship by Consent by B. Jan Montana Jan 05, 2026 #226 Food, Music, and Sensory Experience: An Interview With Professor Jonathan Zearfoss of the Culinary Institute of America by Joe Caplan Jan 05, 2026 #226 Studio Confidential: A Who’s Who of Recording Engineers Tell Their Stories by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Pilot Radio is Reborn, 50 Years Later: Talking With CEO Barak Epstein by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 The Vinyl Beat Goes Down to Tijuana (By Way of Los Angeles), Part One by Rudy Radelic Jan 05, 2026 #226 Capital Audiofest 2025: Must-See Stereo, Part Two by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel and Tyler Ramsey Collaborate on Their Acoustic Guitar Album, Celestun by Ray Chelstowski Jan 05, 2026 #226 The People Who Make Audio Happen: CanJam SoCal 2025, Part Two by Harris Fogel Jan 05, 2026 #226 How to Play in a Rock Band, 19: Touring Can Make You Crazy, Part One by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Linda Ronstadt Goes Bigger by Wayne Robins Jan 05, 2026 #226 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Active Room Correction and Digital Signal Processing by Paul McGowan Jan 05, 2026 #226 PS Audio in the News by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 25: Half-Full, Not Empty by Ken Kessler Jan 05, 2026 #226 Happy New Year! by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Turn It Down! by Peter Xeni Jan 05, 2026 #226 Ghost Riders by James Schrimpf Jan 05, 2026 #226 A Factory Tour of Audio Manufacturer German Physiks by Markus "Marsu" Manthey Jan 04, 2026 #225 Capital Audiofest 2025: Must-See Stereo, Part One by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Otis Taylor and the Electrics Delivers a Powerful Set of Hypnotic Modern Blues by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 A Christmas Miracle by B. Jan Montana Dec 01, 2025 #225 T.H.E. Show New York 2025, Part Two: Plenty to See, Hear, and Enjoy by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Underappreciated Artists, Part One: Martin Briley by Rich Isaacs Dec 01, 2025 #225 Rock and Roll is Here to Stay by Wayne Robins Dec 01, 2025 #225 A Lifetime of Holiday Record (and CD) Listening by Rudy Radelic Dec 01, 2025 #225 Little Feat: Not Saying Goodbye, Not Yet by Ray Chelstowski Dec 01, 2025 #225 How to Play in a Rock Band, Part 18: Dealing With Burnout by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 The People Who Make Audio Happen: CanJam SoCal 2025 by Harris Fogel Dec 01, 2025 #225 Chicago’s Sonic Sanctuaries: Four Hi‑Fi Listening Bars Channeling the Jazz‑Kissa Spirit by Olivier Meunier-Plante Dec 01, 2025

PS Audio in the News

PS Audio in the News

Stereophile’s Kalman Rubinson found a lot to like about the Aspen FR5 loudspeaker. He said, “It is hard to criticize the performance of the Aspen FR5s. Placement is not difficult…and they are equally satisfying with a wide variety of music. They offer excellent treble detail without brightness, fine voice delineation without emphasis, and generous bass for their size.”

He continued, “Most impressive is the FR5s' spacious soundstage, revealing tonally balanced voices and instruments with music intimate or massive. These speakers may be small, but they do not sound small…They consistently achieve one of audio's elusive goals: they disappear into the music.”

Future Audiophile has an in-depth review of the BHK Mono 600 Power Amplifier. Reviewer Greg Handy was highly impressed, noting, The PS Audio BHK Mono 600 amplifiers proved to be a noticeable addition to my system, showing off its capabilities of effortless amplification, offering an extensive and detailed sound with impressive natural timbre.”

He concluded by saying, “...if it were within the budget to step up amplifiers, the PS Audio BHK Mono 600 would be at the top of my contenders list.

Gearadical posted a highly positive review of the Aspen FR5 loudspeaker. Reviewer John Brandon called the speaker “Rich, precise, dynamic –  warm.” He noted, “Warm means transported, moved. It means the product captures both your heart and your mind.”

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity offered a detailed review of the Aspen FR5. John Johnson said, “They are truly beautiful,” and “Two of the most notable things about the sound of these speakers are the very nice planar-magnetic tweeter delivering a smooth, musical presentation, and the deep bass produced by the combination of the mid-woofer and passive radiator.” He called the planar magnetic tweeter “a breath of clarity.”

The Absolute Sound included the PS Audio StellarGold DAC and PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 in their Editors’ Choice: Best DACs $3,000 - $10,000 listings. Regarding the StellarGold DAC, TAS said, “Our big impression was of a low noise level yielding a huge soundstage with believable performer placement. Instrumental lines were well separated, as well.”

For the DirectStream DAC MK2 TAS commented, “The DirectStream sounds considerably better than its predecessor…offering tremendous resolution of soundstage info and spatial cues. Reproduction of low-level detail is also a strong suit, with very fine rendering against a jet-black background.”

0 comments

Leave a comment

0 Comments

Your avatar

Loading comments...

🗑️ Delete Comment

Enter moderator password to delete this comment:

✏️ Edit Comment

Enter your email to verify ownership: