COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 223 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 223 PS Audio in the News

PS Audio in the News

PS Audio in the News

Audiophilia had effusive praise for the PMG Signature Preamplifier, which earned a Star Component Award. Reviewer Karl Sigman noted, “I gambled and took a risk: I bought one. Now that I have been using it for over a month, suffice to say, the coin landed heads; it is exceptional.” He said it was “revealing more realism and accuracy in the soundstage and imaging. A wonderful intimacy and presence of vocals and instruments were evident in the overall presentation, and a clean and pure sound was the norm. The bass presentation was at a new high as well, full-bodied, tight, and with superb clarity.” He concluded by saying, “very highly recommended.”

Future Audiophile also raved about the PMG Signature Preamplifier, stating, “It’s one of the most transparent preamplifiers I’ve heard.” Reviewer Jim Swantko continued, “PS Audio has hit an audiophile homerun with the PMG Signature preamplifier. Sonically, it checks all the boxes that I want from an audiophile preamplifier. It is uber-transparent, letting me hear deeply into every track I played through my system…If…you are shopping for a statement preamplifier, you absolutely must audition one, even if you are shopping for preamps that are as much as double the price. This preamp is just that good.”

Add The Audiophiliac to the list of reviewers who are highly impressed with the Aspen FR5. In his YouTube video Steve Guttenberg said, “they filled the room in a way few small speakers can do,” and called it “a very special speaker…especially in the low end.” He also said, “the midrange is gorgeous and the highs are easy to listen to.”

 

 

The Absolute Sound posted a video review of the Stellar DAC. They said the DAC had “an exceptional ability to reproduce the intimate atmosphere of a smaller space…with remarkable presence and three-dimensional imaging.” The reviewer liked its “organic warmth and natural dynamics.”

 

 

Positive Feedback also had great things to say about the Stellar DAC. Dean Seislove said, “This is a beautiful sounding DAC, by design. Playing Sasha Matson's newest album, Fillmore Street, the Stellar DAC does an exceptional job of capturing the breadth and dimension of the orchestra, but more importantly, the tone and texture of the instruments sings naturally and without distracting emphasis. I played many, many other artists from a variety of genres, but the overall balance and tonal fulsomeness was sustained in excellent fashion.”

Stereophile’s Recommended Components Fall 2025 edition included the Aspen FR5 loudspeakers, which received a Class A rating, as well as the DirectStream Power Plant 20 and Power Plant 12 (accessories didn’t receive letter ratings and not all product categories were listed). The publication noted that “the Aspen FR5s were 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. 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.”

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PS Audio in the News

PS Audio in the News

Audiophilia had effusive praise for the PMG Signature Preamplifier, which earned a Star Component Award. Reviewer Karl Sigman noted, “I gambled and took a risk: I bought one. Now that I have been using it for over a month, suffice to say, the coin landed heads; it is exceptional.” He said it was “revealing more realism and accuracy in the soundstage and imaging. A wonderful intimacy and presence of vocals and instruments were evident in the overall presentation, and a clean and pure sound was the norm. The bass presentation was at a new high as well, full-bodied, tight, and with superb clarity.” He concluded by saying, “very highly recommended.”

Future Audiophile also raved about the PMG Signature Preamplifier, stating, “It’s one of the most transparent preamplifiers I’ve heard.” Reviewer Jim Swantko continued, “PS Audio has hit an audiophile homerun with the PMG Signature preamplifier. Sonically, it checks all the boxes that I want from an audiophile preamplifier. It is uber-transparent, letting me hear deeply into every track I played through my system…If…you are shopping for a statement preamplifier, you absolutely must audition one, even if you are shopping for preamps that are as much as double the price. This preamp is just that good.”

Add The Audiophiliac to the list of reviewers who are highly impressed with the Aspen FR5. In his YouTube video Steve Guttenberg said, “they filled the room in a way few small speakers can do,” and called it “a very special speaker…especially in the low end.” He also said, “the midrange is gorgeous and the highs are easy to listen to.”

 

 

The Absolute Sound posted a video review of the Stellar DAC. They said the DAC had “an exceptional ability to reproduce the intimate atmosphere of a smaller space…with remarkable presence and three-dimensional imaging.” The reviewer liked its “organic warmth and natural dynamics.”

 

 

Positive Feedback also had great things to say about the Stellar DAC. Dean Seislove said, “This is a beautiful sounding DAC, by design. Playing Sasha Matson's newest album, Fillmore Street, the Stellar DAC does an exceptional job of capturing the breadth and dimension of the orchestra, but more importantly, the tone and texture of the instruments sings naturally and without distracting emphasis. I played many, many other artists from a variety of genres, but the overall balance and tonal fulsomeness was sustained in excellent fashion.”

Stereophile’s Recommended Components Fall 2025 edition included the Aspen FR5 loudspeakers, which received a Class A rating, as well as the DirectStream Power Plant 20 and Power Plant 12 (accessories didn’t receive letter ratings and not all product categories were listed). The publication noted that “the Aspen FR5s were 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. 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.”

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