PS Audio HCA-2 and PCA-2

mca · « **on:** 2 Sep 2004, 05:10 pm »

A very well known dealer on Audiogon is offering a great deal on this amp and preamp combo. There has been a lot of talk about this amp, some positive and some not.
I also see that Modwright has a pretty inexpensive mod for this amp that is said to cure some of the "hardness" that has been associated with it.
I'm looking at this combo to possibly use with my new Gallo Reference 3's and would like to hear any feedback anyone has on them!

vpolineni · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 05:20 pm »

I've heard this combination on some vandersteen 3a signatures. The preamp has some neat features like assigning labels to an input. Overall, the sound was laid back and smooth, but it didn't stand out in my mind. It was a little too sterile for me. that is a good deal you're referring to though. what are you currently driving your gallos with? It seems that they require a lot of power with 88db sensitivity but nathan at eighth nerve is using 50 watts to power them and he doesn't have an complaints.

mca · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 05:47 pm »

I was using a McIntosh MA6500 integrated at 120wpc. That amp just did not seem that powerfull to me and the top end was a little rough.
I had the oppertunity to sell it for a bit more than I paid for it and did.
Any idea what Nathan is using to power his Gallo's?

vpolineni · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 07:48 pm »

he said he is using a Naim NAP 150x amp. It could be that those 50 "naim watts" are more powerful than 50 regular watts, as naim owners attest to. In the 6moons review, a tube amp was used with the gallos, so maybe it's more sensitive than the claimed 88db.

The Killer Piglet · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 10:29 pm »

I tried the amp, and found it dry and grainy. Like mca, I found it lacking in power as it ran out of oomph even at moderate volumes.

KP

Phil · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Sep 2004, 11:55 pm »

haven't heard the combination but have had the amp for a while. The Modwright mod (level2) made a substantial improvement. The hardness goes away (at least to my ears) and it becomes more musical and has more finesse.

gitarretyp · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Sep 2004, 03:27 am »

I'm quite happy with my pca-2/hca-2 combo. However, my speakers are a bit on the warm side (eminent tech LFT-VIIIAs). I have never experienced any lack of power with my inefficient speakers 83db. However, i do live in an apartment and never go too loud. I will say that i prefer the hca-2 to an aragon 4004mkII i previously had. I found the hca-2 to have better low end control, extension, and weight, have warmer mids, and throw a more realistic soundstage.

I've also done mods similar to modwright's mods on the hca-2 (< $100 in parts). They do make a nice improvemnt over the original and are relatively easy to do. Over at the reference audio mods forum, they've laid out pretty clearly what mods they do to the hca-2. So, if you're handy with a soldering iron, there are nice improvements to be had for a relatively small investment.

A couple of tips: Removing the bolt from the transformer and lifting it from the chassis removes quite a bit of the hardness many associate with this amp. The amp is really very sensitive to power cords, too. The best match i've found so far is a ps audio lab power cable.

Afterimage · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Sep 2004, 08:48 am »

I have the PCA-2/HCA-2 combo. The HCA-2 was modified by Audiophile Sound Inovations. However, I have swtiched preamps. The PCA-2 had nice features, but I wanted better performance. There is a new power supply offered for the PCA-2 that is supposed to really improve the sound. I think PS Audio sells it for around one grand. I am now using a Ray Samuals Stealth tube preamp. The performance is amazing for the price and a huge step up from the PCA-2. The speakers are Dali Euphonia MS 4s.