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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#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 #225 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Controlling Bass Frequencies Through Membrane Absorbers (and How to Build Your Own) by Paul McGowan Dec 01, 2025 #225 Your Editor’s Tips for Attending Audio Shows by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 PS Audio in the News by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 24 by Ken Kessler Dec 01, 2025 #225 Holiday Music by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Puppy Prognostication by Peter Xeni Dec 01, 2025 #225 How to Post Comments on Copper by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Living Color by Rudy Radelic Dec 01, 2025 #224 T.H.E. Show New York 2025, Part One: A New Beginning by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025 #224 Fool’s Leap of Faith is the Extraordinary Octave Records Debut from Singer/Songwriter Tyler Burba and Visit by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025 #224 The Beatles’ “Aeolian Cadences.” What? by Wayne Robins Nov 03, 2025 #224 Persona Non Grata by B. Jan Montana Nov 03, 2025 #224 Talking With Recording Engineer Barry Diament of Soundkeeper Recordings, Part Two by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025 #224 B Sides, B Movies, and Beware of Zombies by Rudy Radelic Nov 03, 2025 #224 The Burn-In Chronicles: 1,000 Hours to Sonic Salvation by Olivier Meunier-Plante Nov 03, 2025 #224 A Conversation With Mat Weisfeld of VPI Industries by Joe Caplan Nov 03, 2025 #224 Blues-Rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd Celebrates 30 Years of Ledbetter Heights by Ray Chelstowski Nov 03, 2025 #224 Playing in a Rock Band, 17: When Good Gigs Go Bad, Part Two by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025

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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