Darren and Michael, I want to thank you for taking the time to do the interview. It was one of the most interesting things I have watched in a long while. Good luck with your future in audio Darren! I am going to finally commit the time to check out PS Audio's gear and definitely your phono pre. I will give it a listen and try and provide some feedback. I'm a bit like Mr. Fremer in that I have been into audio since age 12 and I just turned 55. It's been a long interesting road and a lot of what you said in the interview rang true. I am really glad to see there are still 12-15 year old young adults with a passion for music and audio. I will look for you at RAMF and AXPONA next year.
Back in the 70's my first piece of really good audio gear was the PS Audio Phono Preamp ][ (the update to their very first product) which I kept for 40 years and it still impressed people who heard it. The guy who bought it wrote me back saying this: "What is this thing??!?! I know ps audio but I can’t find anything on this and it sounds amazing!! Blows away a $1000 new preamp in my system. I know it’s old so I wasn’t sure what to expect even though I obviously know ps audio is amazing. I even emailed ps audio and they just replied that it’s a true relic and they don’t have any info on it. Whatever it is it matches perfectly with my Rega rp6 and exact cartridge and you don’t even have to mess with dip switches and dials and buttons. Thanks again enjoying the sh*t out of it. " I also had a PS Audio Elite + integrated amp that I owned for many decades. BTW, the Elite + went to someone who appreciated it. His message to me: "The sound of this amp is amazing! Once again I am re-introduced to my stereo system. " Twice he's designed speakers that were well reviewed by the audio magazines and helped design higher end car audio systems for one of the car manufacturers. I had to sell both pieces to help pay bills, otherwise I'd keep them until the day I died, and maybe arrange to take them with me. Both pieces of PS Audio gear were all original. No parts replaced. I think I got my money's worth out of them over the decades.
I am very much looking forward to Darren’s phono preamp. I love these types of interviews where the designer talks about the how and why, and the passion shows through.
PS Audio makes beautiful equipment. In looking at this phono preamp, I see that it only has knobs on the rear panel to make setting adjustments for MC carts. Does anyone know if it makes MM setting adjustments, and, if so, how? Thanks!
Is that the AN1 or AN3 prototype in the background? Different looking, that’s for sure. A 4way design, I believe. Looking forward to hearing it. I met and spoke to Darren at length during a PS Audio tour. Uber-cool dude and a brilliant engineer. I’m sure McGowan is very happy he hired Darren.
Has anyone done any measurements and graphs of pre and pro ringing arising from analog vinyl? Is this a physical impossibility? And does this start to explain why Vinyl remains so popular? Acoustically speaking resolution isn’t everything but pre esp and pro ringing are significant contaminants in audio reproduction?
Long time PS Audio kit owner and was a dealer over a decade ago. I bought a AA DDP-1 but was unable to get the matching outboard PS. I then bought the Stellar GC and M700s. The amps are excellent for the $$$, but the GC dac/pre lacks an outboard PS. This surprised me as virtually all other PS pres I owned ( 2 or 3) offered them and they made a HUGE difference. So as much as I enjoyed the ability to shift balance, and switch Polarity via remote, the GC dac/pre lacks the fuzz on the peach and umph that it should, or could if an outboard PS was an option. Fortunately, I did come across an AA PS 5 outboard PS, which took the AA DDP-1 to a much higher level of enjoyment. I sold the GC dac/pre. If you're reading this, consider a redesign to include an outboard PS with a second input to include the soon to be released phono stage. My 2 cents
Enjoyed the interview! Darren Myers shows passion for designing PS audio equipment and realizes the ultimate test for great equipment is between our two ears. Thanks Michael for inspiring a smart and intelligent audio engineer who loves music and designs excellent audio gear made in America. Paul McGowan knows how to hire the right people - agree with the boss when he's right but stick to your guns and tell him when he is wrong!
Hi Darren was a pleasure to see this interview Mike F youtube Channel, Audio planet, i'm am an Electronics Engineer with a Passion For Audio , still trying to find my Dream job at middle age , my Passion for Vinyl/ Audio /CD with a electronics knowledge and hobby from mid 1980's , would love to contact you and have a Chat
I'm a fan of yours too, except I'm a nobody! But you have brought me back into vinyl, and got me listening to it on a "decent" system to realize vinyl sounds amazing, (and other analogue equipment)!
Paul dislikes B&W speakers! (so do I)....met Paul and Darren in 2019 on PS audio tour. Enjoyed the experience so much..... More Audio companies should offer a factory tour.....Really enjoyed Darren's enthusiasm for Audio
The 700+ parts in the upcoming PS Audio phono preamp don't make sense in any way, shape, or form -- it's such a simple engineering task, how could anyone manage to make it so complicated and costly? Oh well, I guess I was kidding myself when I so thoroughly enjoyed all those LPs back in the day via my old SAE preamp's primitive phono stage....
Michael please! Do the interview or play music but don't do both. It would have been better to start with a little music in the background then slowly turn it down so it draws the viewer into the conversation. I see so many basic mistakes in the production of audio related videos it's just amazing. Other than that, carry on. Love your perspective on things!
I think the P.S. Audio Stellar might be my ticket. P.S. Audio has a healthy approach to design i thought back in 1979 when vinyl was true king & all preamplifier's phono-sections were of primary importance & their 4.5/hi-current tran' preamplifier i then owned was better than anything on the market at double the price of £1500 (i & very many hi-if folk thought) like the Stellar, it was a fully discreet design with 15'ish transistors on each channel & no chips in the signal path. P.S. incidentally & no big deal is: It seems in U.S. everyone pronounces 'Records' as "Recuds" while we over the pond say 'records' as "Re... core...ds" or "reCORds" when we tape something, we say we "re...cord" it, while U.S. folk would say, we "recud" it?
Had two of their hybrid amps fail on me set one in for repair still didn't fix it right. Anaconda like power cords. Over priced entry level products Assembled in China. It's a world of quantity over quality and for quality you have to take out a second mortgage on your house.
That must have been quite a few years ago. PS Audio manufactures in the US precisely because quality control during Chinese manufacture was not working.
Phew... I like Music. I like background music. But when it comes to an interesting Dialog between Mike and Darren Myers - especially over an OP-Amp and a Phono-Stage, i rather kill the Loudspeakers that make this disturbing background Noise! I want to hear what this two Specialists have to say! The World can explode in the Background - but i want to hear Michael Myers and Darren Fremer (and a Chainsaw? ). Fuck! So you can see how this Noise confuses me.... lol.
Love all the talent that Paul has attracted at PS Audio. Amazing work!
Darren and Michael, I want to thank you for taking the time to do the interview. It was one of the most interesting things I have watched in a long while. Good luck with your future in audio Darren! I am going to finally commit the time to check out PS Audio's gear and definitely your phono pre. I will give it a listen and try and provide some feedback. I'm a bit like Mr. Fremer in that I have been into audio since age 12 and I just turned 55. It's been a long interesting road and a lot of what you said in the interview rang true. I am really glad to see there are still 12-15 year old young adults with a passion for music and audio. I will look for you at RAMF and AXPONA next year.
Back in the 70's my first piece of really good audio gear was the PS Audio Phono Preamp ][ (the update to their very first product) which I kept for 40 years and it still impressed people who heard it. The guy who bought it wrote me back saying this: "What is this thing??!?! I know ps audio but I can’t find anything on this and it sounds amazing!! Blows away a $1000 new preamp in my system. I know it’s old so I wasn’t sure what to expect even though I obviously know ps audio is amazing. I even emailed ps audio and they just replied that it’s a true relic and they don’t have any info on it. Whatever it is it matches perfectly with my Rega rp6 and exact cartridge and you don’t even have to mess with dip switches and dials and buttons. Thanks again enjoying the sh*t out of it. "
I also had a PS Audio Elite + integrated amp that I owned for many decades. BTW, the Elite + went to someone who appreciated it. His message to me: "The sound of this amp is amazing! Once again I am re-introduced to my stereo system. " Twice he's designed speakers that were well reviewed by the audio magazines and helped design higher end car audio systems for one of the car manufacturers.
I had to sell both pieces to help pay bills, otherwise I'd keep them until the day I died, and maybe arrange to take them with me.
Both pieces of PS Audio gear were all original. No parts replaced. I think I got my money's worth out of them over the decades.
No wonder Paul scooped him up
Kid is a Gem. Wish him lots of success
Ya gotta love a one time B&W designer who uses a pair of Harbeths at home.
I love my Harbeth super HL5 plus the best I’ve ever heard.
I am very much looking forward to Darren’s phono preamp. I love these types of interviews where the designer talks about the how and why, and the passion shows through.
Love your videos!!
And it is incredible how important you work is, proven once more here with Myers testemony!
Thanks for doing it all!
PS Audio makes beautiful equipment. In looking at this phono preamp, I see that it only has knobs on the rear panel to make setting adjustments for MC carts. Does anyone know if it makes MM setting adjustments, and, if so, how? Thanks!
All down to you Michael, sound advice at the right time
Is that the AN1 or AN3 prototype in the background? Different looking, that’s for sure. A 4way design, I believe. Looking forward to hearing it. I met and spoke to Darren at length during a PS Audio tour. Uber-cool dude and a brilliant engineer. I’m sure McGowan is very happy he hired Darren.
It's a AN3 and 4-way design. AN1 is still in designing stage i believe and they still have to launch AN2 first by their plan i believe.
He forgot to list his reference albums. But this was really great.
Has anyone done any measurements and graphs of pre and pro ringing arising from analog vinyl? Is this a physical impossibility? And does this start to explain why Vinyl remains so popular? Acoustically speaking resolution isn’t everything but pre esp and pro ringing are significant contaminants in audio reproduction?
Have you measured shitty ringing digital filters? They suck. You don’t have to measure to hear how crappy most CDs sound.
Really great video. He’s living the dream. I love seeing that!
Long time PS Audio kit owner and was a dealer over a decade ago. I bought a AA DDP-1 but was unable to get the matching outboard PS. I then bought the Stellar GC and M700s. The amps are excellent for the $$$, but the GC dac/pre lacks an outboard PS. This surprised me as virtually all other PS pres I owned ( 2 or 3) offered them and they made a HUGE difference. So as much as I enjoyed the ability to shift balance, and switch Polarity via remote, the GC dac/pre lacks the fuzz on the peach and umph that it should, or could if an outboard PS was an option. Fortunately, I did come across an AA PS 5 outboard PS, which took the AA DDP-1 to a much higher level of enjoyment. I sold the GC dac/pre. If you're reading this, consider a redesign to include an outboard PS with a second input to include the soon to be released phono stage. My 2 cents
Enjoyed the interview! Darren Myers shows passion for designing PS audio equipment and realizes the ultimate test for great equipment is between our two ears. Thanks Michael for inspiring a smart and intelligent audio engineer who loves music and designs excellent audio gear made in America. Paul McGowan knows how to hire the right people - agree with the boss when he's right but stick to your guns and tell him when he is wrong!
Hi Darren was a pleasure to see this interview Mike F youtube Channel, Audio planet, i'm am an Electronics Engineer with a Passion For Audio , still trying to find my Dream job at middle age , my Passion for Vinyl/ Audio /CD with a electronics knowledge and hobby from mid 1980's , would love to contact you and have a Chat
Darren left PS Audio, and, is now at Parasound.
I'm a fan of yours too, except I'm a nobody! But you have brought me back into vinyl, and got me listening to it on a "decent" system to realize vinyl sounds amazing, (and other analogue equipment)!
and...but, no kidding, this guy is great! There is no mistake what is driving him. Ps audio have a great future with him. Great work, Paul!
Paul dislikes B&W speakers! (so do I)....met Paul and Darren in 2019 on PS audio tour. Enjoyed the experience so much..... More Audio companies should offer a factory tour.....Really enjoyed Darren's enthusiasm for Audio
I want to hear the AR1 speakers.
A very good interview , really enjoyed it
Daniel Meyer published an article on making discrete component op amps for audio in the July 1972 issue of Wireless World! The old is new again :-)
I love this brand and the people behind this brand, and hope to someday own something ps audio...
Thanks a bunch. Great interview.
ne5532 and opa1662 opamps are almost the same price of something under 2€
What a nice and smart guy Darren is! No doubt that's why Paul hired him ;-) They are matching perfectly... Greetings from Germany!
Very impressed with both, mr fremer (a speed talker) shut up and let the man be the focus of the interview!
Excellent interview I really enjoyed watching it .
Simply wonderful.
it’s a common mistake: people confuse Op Amp with Integrated circuit (IC). In the DIY community the discrete Op Amp is very popular.
Now i know where the sticking Sprout name came from interview
Travis the PS Audio
Big Man
You may want to consider NOT sitting in front of a LOUD speaker playing music when doing an interview ... just a thought.
Those speakers were not playing. Sound from elsewhere
Paul McGowen should bow down to this brilliant young man on his factory floor every morning !
Where is Paul ?
He's selling sprouts.
@@lynnpoole7830 do you have one
He uploads video of himself every day of the week, it's nice getting a break from him.
Making Vegetarian chicken noodle soup
@@marcus1970 Chickens aren't vegetarians; they are, like me, omnivores. We eat vegetarians ;-)
Darren took over some gestures and noises from Paul...
Wow dude was making some top notch money at 18!!!!!!!!
Great interview. I might even say Stellar! :-}
Great interview
The 700+ parts in the upcoming PS Audio phono preamp don't make sense in any way, shape, or form -- it's such a simple engineering task, how could anyone manage to make it so complicated and costly? Oh well, I guess I was kidding myself when I so thoroughly enjoyed all those LPs back in the day via my old SAE preamp's primitive phono stage....
Michael please! Do the interview or play music but don't do both. It would have been better to start with a little music in the background then slowly turn it down so it draws the viewer into the conversation. I see so many basic mistakes in the production of audio related videos it's just amazing. Other than that, carry on. Love your perspective on things!
Very much enjoyed this interview.
Watching at An”icon” in the making here............
Great story!
wow, Paul can retire now, Darren is ready to go to the next level, PS Audio is in good hands :-))
i spent my last two bucks on dave brubeck the other day ,money well spent
Homeless and hungry, will work for vinyl.
@@InsideOfMyOwnMind yep i live for vinyl ,hifi,and coffee,my thing get it now before all the original stuff is gone ...
Hey it’s Jerry Springer!
Vary interesting.....
Just remake the IRS betas and stop. The wheel has been invented
Lose the BG music ;)
Could have at least turned it down a bit.
I think the P.S. Audio Stellar might be my ticket. P.S. Audio has a healthy approach to design i thought back in 1979 when vinyl was true king & all preamplifier's phono-sections were of primary importance & their 4.5/hi-current tran' preamplifier i then owned was better than anything on the market at double the price of £1500 (i & very many hi-if folk thought) like the Stellar, it was a fully discreet design with 15'ish transistors on each channel & no chips in the signal path. P.S. incidentally & no big deal is: It seems in U.S. everyone pronounces 'Records' as "Recuds" while we over the pond say 'records' as "Re... core...ds" or "reCORds" when we tape something, we say we "re...cord" it, while U.S. folk would say, we "recud" it?
Had two of their hybrid amps fail on me set one in for repair still didn't fix it right. Anaconda like power cords. Over priced entry level products Assembled in China. It's a world of quantity over quality and for quality you have to take out a second mortgage on your house.
That must have been quite a few years ago. PS Audio manufactures in the US precisely because quality control during Chinese manufacture was not working.
@@jonathansturm4163 Yeah it was a good 5 or 6 years ago
@My Name That's certainly not clear from Paul's account in his memoir. He refers to the China episode (circa 2001) as nearly destroying the business.
Phew... I like Music. I like background music. But when it comes to an interesting Dialog between Mike and Darren Myers - especially over an OP-Amp and a Phono-Stage, i rather kill the Loudspeakers that make this disturbing background Noise! I want to hear what this two Specialists have to say! The World can explode in the Background - but i want to hear Michael Myers and Darren Fremer (and a Chainsaw? ).
Fuck! So you can see how this Noise confuses me.... lol.
Could've done without the background music as well but looks like they're at a show with demos going on so reasonable to grin and bear it this time.
This seems interesting but that backround nonsense sound is unbearable.so I must switch off 🙄
Fremer is an idol to this guy? He must set the bar pretty low. Who else is his idol, Pauly Shore?
pathetic jealous asswipe says what?
Heeeey, Pauly Shore made some gems.
Not convinced. Looks like the guy that would tell you “I’m the world champion”.
The 5532 is a terrible op-amp. years ago when I did mods I used a 712 op-amp. I use to have a fantasy of working for a high-end audio company.
Terrible to who? You? You contribute nothing to nothing. Why do people like you exist?