BHK Signature 250 Amplifier
The BHK 250 stereo power amplifier is an industry reference standard for performance—a 250 watt per channel investment grade musical instrument that brings life to music.
The BHK Signature 250 Stereo Power Amplifier culminates one man’s lifelong quest for perfection in power amplification. Bascom H. King’s magnum opus combines a vacuum tube input with a powerful MOSFET output capable of 250/500 watts per channel. When cost-no-object performance is the goal there are a rare handful of power amplifiers capable of transporting listeners into a musical space few are able to enjoy. The BHK Signature 250 is one such amplifier. Lush, gorgeous, powerful, revealing, hand built, perfect. If you are uncomfortable with compromise and seek the finest performance, reliability, and build quality in a single-chassis format, the BHK Signature 250 is a perfect fit.
DESIGN
Nothing in the design of a power amplifier is more important than its input stage when preserving music’s finest nuances. In the BHK Signature, a vacuum tube serves as the perfect interface between the preamplifier and MOSFET output stage. This hybrid approach offers stunning musical performance and unrivaled, effortless drive to the speaker. The Signature 250 Stereo Amplifier is the ultimate choice when a single chassis solution is required.
APPLICATION
The BHK Signature 250 Stereo Amplifier produces 250 watts/ channel into an eight-Ohm loudspeaker, 500 watts/channel into four-Ohms, and stable into 2-Ohms; enough power to satisfy even the hungriest of loads. Use this amplifier as the bedrock of your high-performance audio or home theater system. The BHK 250 provides the finest performance, reliability and build quality possible, in a single chassis format.
OVERVIEW
The importance of the power amplifier in the 2-channel system chain cannot be overstated, yet it’s often overlooked. It’s the rare few music lovers that truly appreciate the power amp’s critical role in preserving music’s nuanced details, because most amplifiers fail to preserve them. Overtones from plucked instruments, subtle cues defining placement, depth, soundstage width, and transient decays are often lost in the power amplifier. Suddenly revealed are the tiniest of details that now ring clear through the BHK, perfectly preserved through its low feedback, vacuum tube and MOSFET design. When it comes to musically controlling and powering loudspeakers, the BHK Signature has few peers at any price. The stereo Signature 250 produces 250 watts/per channel into an eight-Ohm loudspeaker, 500 watts/channel into four-Ohms, and stable into 2-Ohms; enough power to satisfy even the hungriest of loads.
INPUT STAGE
A power amplifier’s input stage is a critical interface in the quest to preserve music’s essential details and vacuum tubes do it best. Hand matched pairs of Russian Gold Lion 6922s provide the perfect interface between the delicate musical transitions output by the DAC or preamplifier, transferring it without loss to the MOSFET output power stage and eventually the loudspeakers. The hybrid approach used in the BHK Signature takes advantage of the best traits technology has to offer, unavailable in traditional solid state or tube designs. While vacuum tubes are the perfect input stage, they cannot make the same claim on a power amplifier’s output. Conversely, solid state designs are correct for output stages, but suffer when used as inputs. Only a hybrid approach takes advantage of the best in both disciplines.
OUTPUT STAGE
A power amplifier’s input stage is a critical interface in the quest to preserve music’s essential details and vacuum tubes do it best. Hand matched pairs of Russian Gold Lion 6922s provide the perfect interface between the delicate musical transitions output by the DAC or preamplifier, transferring it without loss to the MOSFET output power stage and eventually the loudspeakers. The hybrid approach used in the BHK Signature takes advantage of the best traits technology has to offer, unavailable in traditional solid state or tube designs. While vacuum tubes are the perfect input stage, they cannot make the same claim on a power amplifier’s output. Conversely, solid state designs are correct for output stages, but suffer when used as inputs. Only a hybrid approach takes advantage of the best in both disciplines.
FEATURES
- Zero-loss vacuum tube input stage
- Differentially coupled balanced MOSFET output stage
- All through hole construction (no surface mount parts)
- RCA Single ended input
- XLR balanced input
- 250 watts per channel 8Ω Signature
- 500 watts per channel 4Ω Signature
- 2Ω stable Signature 250 stereo
- Less than 0.1% thd 20Hz to 20kHz at rated power
- Damping factor 100 for excellent loudspeaker control
- Front panel standby button for vacuum tube input
- -3dB greater than 200kHz
- Dual, custom, solid copper, gold plated output binding posts
- Fully balanced from input to output
- 83 pounds
- Input 12 volt trigger
- Easy access for tubes
SPECIFICATIONS
| BHK Signature 250 Stereo and BHK Signature 300 Mono | |
| Unit Weight | 83 lbs [37.6 kg] |
| Unit Dimensions | 17.1” x 8.7” x 14” Chassis only. 15″ deep including connectors. |
| Shipping Weight | 92 lbs [41.7 kg] |
| Shipping Dimensions | 21”x 13” x 19” |
| Color Options | Black
Silver |
| Voltage Options
Factory set only |
Japan 100V
North America 120V Europe/Asia/Australia/New Zealand 230V |
| Mains Power Inputs | IEC C14 |
| Fuse Compliment all Countries | 4 – 10 amp fast blow H-Rated 5x20mm Rail Fuses |
| Fuse Compliment Mains | 100vac Countries
1 – 2 amp slow blow H-rated 5x20mm 1 – 12 amp slow blow H-rated 5x20mm 120vac Countries 1 – 2 amp slow blow H-rated 5x20mm 1 – 10 amp slow blow H-rated 5x20mm 230vac Countries 1 – 1.6 amp slow blow H-rated 5x20mm 1 – 5 amp slow blow H-rated 5x20mm |
| Accessories Included | US (NEMA 5-15P) (all versions)
Schuko (CEE7/7) (230V version) UK (BS 1363) (230V version) |
| Audio Inputs | RCA (Unbalanced)
XLR (Balanced) |
| Speaker Outputs Signature 250 | Gold plated copper binding posts (2 pair per channel) |
| Speaker Outputs Signature 300 | Gold plated copper binding posts (2 pair) |
| Other | DC Trigger Input
3.5mm 5-15VDC |
| Warranty | 3 years parts and labor on unit
1 year on vacuum tube |
| Power Consumption | |
| @Ready | 75 Watts |
| @Idle | 175 Watts |
| @Rated power 8Ω | 850 Watts |
| @Rated power 4Ω | 1600 Watts |
| Signal | |
| Gain | 30.5dB +/-0.5dB |
| Sensitivity for rated output power of 250 watts into 8Ω | 1.3V |
| Noise | 100-20KHz <-85dBV |
| Input impedance Signature 250 stereo | Unbalanced 100KΩ
Balanced 200KΩ |
| Input impedance Signature 300 mono | Unbalanced 50KΩ
Balanced 100KΩ |
| Output Impedance | 50Hz, 2.8VRMS <0.1Ω |
| Frequency Response | @2.8VRMS
10Hz – 20KHz +/- 0.1dB 10Hz – 200KHz +0.1/-3.0dB |
| THD&IM | |
| 1KHz, 1W/8Ω | <0.01% |
| 20-20KHz, 1W/8Ω | <0.1% |
| 1KHz, 200W/8Ω | < 0.1% (120VAC Mains input) |
| 1KHz, 400W/4Ω | < 0.1% (120VAC Mains input) |
| Signature 250 Stereo Amplifier | |
| Output Power | Both channels driven 120vac mains, 1kHz, 1% THD |
| 8Ω | 250W minimum |
| 4Ω | 500W minimum |
| 2Ω | Stable for musical transients |
| Damping factor | >150 |
| Signature 300 Mono Amplifier | |
| Output Power | 120vac mains, 1kHz, 1% THD |
| 8Ω | 300W minimum |
| 4Ω | 600W minimum |
| 2Ω | 1000W |
| Damping factor | >350 |
REVIEWS
I confess I have no criticism of the BHK 250’s sonic performance—only high praise. It is extended and detailed at both frequency extremes and has an immediate, musical, and open sounding midrange (all qualities I love)….
Although the PS Audio BHK Signature 250 stereo amplifier is higher priced than most amplifiers I have used, for an amplifier of this pedigree and obvious premium quality I believe it is quite the bargain at its current $7,499 price tag. In fact, I would seriously consider snapping one up while this price is still available.
So I think I will just buy this beastie and be…
Stereo Times Frank Alles
Bascom, Paul, and Arnie’s combined 150 years of audio excellence has led to a design of classic physical beauty and sonic excellence that easily achieves the goal of competing with über-level amplifiers, but at a fraction of the retail price. As audiophiles, we sometimes fall into the ‘price equals performance’ trap. We fear being the emperor with no clothes when our friends ask how much we paid and it was, gasp! LESS than what flagship gear is supposed to cost. Naturally it must not be that good. This amp is that that rare Holy Grail whose sensible price belies its astounding performance…
HiFi Plus Eric Neff
They have truly exceptional imaging, depth, and natural soundstage width, and they really can get the best out of the naturally miked and produced recordings that have a real-world soundstage. The 300s’ dynamics are extraordinary, particularly in the lower octaves that seem to be in even more demand for audio reproduction today than the upper octaves.READ MORE
The Absolute Sound Anthony Cordesman
The fact is, the BHK Signature 300 is a powerful, nimble-sounding amplifier that immediately drew me in with fast, punchy, tight bass; rich, liquid mids; and delicate, transparent highs—all effectively well integrated into a coherent whole.READ MORE
Stereophile Michael Fremer
I can’t recommend the BHK 250 enough. Like I said I bought this one and it is now here between the speakers with the Claytons off on a rack. I won’t sell the Claytons ever and for sure they will eventually find their way back into the system.READ MORE
Positive Feedback Dave Clark
The PS Audio BHK Signature 250 has everything that one would expect from a power amplifier of this category: it’s powerful, fast, accurate, gentle regarding its ability to convey the harmonic complexity of even the most difficult audio tracks and has a great dynamic reserve. Its ability to recreate a coherent and well focused soundstage puts this product among the best power amplifiers regarding this parameter. I could go on for a while extrapolating specific parameters and writing about how well the BHK behaved respect to them, but it would be useless. In my opinion the ultimate reason of…READ MORE
Fedeltà del Suono Giulio Salvioni
Yes, it’s all things you’d expect from a top flight amplifier: powerful and precise, fast and dynamic, generous in its staging, and close in its focus. But its ability to translate those elements into a musically coherent and consistently compelling performance is what sets the BHK Signature apart from any other power amplifier I’ve listened to. I sense a classic in the making.
Audio Video Magazine Deon Schoeman
