Listening to PS Audio's Reference System | Stereophile

John Atkinson (Editor, Stereophile) listens to three of his own recordings played on the legendary IRS V loudspeaker system, driven by PS Audio's BHK 300 monoblocks. Recorded with a Sennheiser Ambeo. Filmed in Boulder, CO January 2018.

Track 1: "It¹s Alright" by Curtis Mayfield, performed by Cantus, from the 2008 CD "Out of the Box" - 16/44.1k ALAC file

Track 2: "Water Night" by Eric Whitacre, performed by the Portland State Chamber Choir, 2015, unreleased - 24/88.2k AIFF file

Track 3: "Toccata" from the Organ Symphony No. 5 by Widor, performed by Jonas Nordwall, 2014, unreleased - 24/88.2k AIFF file

**********

[sMASHsound]

i wish all classical music was recorded with this standard of low frequency information

[juliaset]

I have to respect PS Audio. Paul says that anyone can come by in person and get a tour, and sit right there in listening room one and experience what John just experienced. How many audio manufacturers will even think of doing that? BTW, headphones needed for this.

[zoltangz]

Wow, , my studio SONY earbuds almost blew me away with that Toccata bass !! I can just imagine what those things must sound like in person !

[bscross]

Even through a recording of a recording, and all the stuff YouTube does as far as compression, I can sense the power in that system.

[scottbennett]

Thanks for sharing your listening experience of PS Audio`s Reference System, I truly enjoyed it!

[odizcvw]

Great to have this record of the IRS V speakers playing well recorded music. Already they are missing from PS Audio and are lost to the public.

[daredevilkk]

Is there any way to get the unreleased tracks? Sounds good and I enjoyed the music.

[odizcvw]

I really appreciate the Stereophile team. John, Herb and Michael all have an amazing body of knowledge combined with a love of the subject and a means to express that is unique. I worry that there will be no one to replace them when their time is done.

[TheRaccoonwrangler]

That sounded incredible! I am listening on a 2.5 Kw System I felt like I was siting in the chair next to John. MY hair was literally moving back and forth as was the walls The fidelity was outstanding! I could even feel Paul's shit eating grin on his face in the next room! Thank You!!!

[ArnoldVroomans]

I could actually feel my headphones shaking with the toccata from Widor.

[TheMB]

How about a critique and impressions?!

[patrickwalsh]

A wonderful set of recordings. I listened through a pair of Totem Mani-2 speakers running full range using a Red Dragon class D 250-WPC amplifier. The low end was supported by a REL-212SE. The low organ pedals were a thrill, even through YT. Is the original digital file for the organ piece available somewhere? I’ve searched and cannot find it. Thanks for sharing this video.

[alastairchestnutt]

Superb music choice, superb recording and reproduction. Very rare to hear reproduced music that is as close to something like the original sound. Really enjoyed your music which is always a good sign of a good system.

[jked]

You need to release the whole concert from its alright. Sounds like they were in top form and having a good time. If it sounded good through you tube, it must sound awsome directly out of a good system.

[infn]

I'm listening with my ATH-E70s and this system must, in reality, be so transparent and resolving that it seems like the limitations of recording a recording played back over speakers aren't that bad at all.

Despite all the naysaying, one can glean some information from recordings of speakers on Youtube. Given sufficiently decent microphones and capable speakers/headphones to hear with, it's possible to understand how resolving, transparent and clear a pair of speakers are.

The outcome will by necessity be a gross estimation and will likely deviate from how it sounds like in person but how different is that from living vicariously through a critic's review of any hifi system?

[socksumi]

If a 1980s flagship speaker can blow away a listener who's profession it is to evaluate to the most up to date reference systems... it makes me wonder how far we've actually advanced the state if the art in audio.

[asilva]

A glimpse of how this system really sounds.

[kevinmcgrath]

Very cool idea. fascinating, sounded great on my Sennheisers. Please post the original files so we can download them, even pieces of them !! just to compare them with the Youtube audio - thanks

[charleskingReal]

Lots of positive comments about the sound here. I suppose that indicates that the 128kbps 44.1kHz AAC youtube uses is actually pretty d**n good. Not that I'd expect any audiophiles to actually admit this...

[sudd]

PSA:
listing with headphones gives the best spacial sounds and it sounds like you are in the room.
listening with proper speakers will let you feel the deep bass in the organ music.
so you actually have to have both to hear the most you can out of this recording.