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REVIEW: PS Audio Trio C-100 Integrated Amplifier (SS)

Model:	Trio C-100
Category:	Integrated Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1595
Description:	ICE Control Amplifier
Manufacturer URL:	PS Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by JimOfOakCreek on January 26, 2008 at 11:58:37 IP Address: 65.26.194.23

Add Your Review for the Trio C-100

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(In a Nut Shell):
The PS Audio Trio C-100 is a 100w/ch (200w/ch @ 4 ohms) integrated ICE digital amp. This is a dual mono-design. The C-100 has an interesting method of volume control. It uses ‘Gain Cells’ which (PSA claims) has no volume attenuation or coloration to degrade the signal. Also it can take in very strong signals without distorting, up to 10 volts RMS. http://www.psaudio.com/articles/gaincell.asp

I may experiment by using it as a power amp in combination with a tube preamp at some point in the future.

It has a surprising amount of juice especially for such a small light-weight amp (8”Wx14”Dx3”H. about 9 lbs). It drives the current hungry Magneplane MMGs easily to loud levels. Layout is simple. On the contoured front panel there’s a volume control, a selector button and 3 blue source lights. On the back there are 3 sets of single-ended (RCA) inputs, 1 set of pre-outs, 1 set of high quality speaker connectors that accept spades or bananas and a power on-off switch. PSA recommends it be kept on 24/7.

It has some faults. New out of the box, the C-100 needs a break-in period because it was too edgy. (not as bad as my Panasonic SA-XR50 when new). The soft touch plastic remote has some functions not relevant to the C-100 and is a PITA.

After a break-in period of about 100 - 150 hours the overall sound has opened and strikes me as being very slightly warmer than dead neutral. It’s exceptionally quiet. With the volume max’ed and no signal from my PC, I hear no hiss, nothing at all. It delivers micro-detail and a tightly defined image. The soundstage has a lot of depth so you get an excellent 3D impression with focused listening. It matches up very well with Magneplane MMGs which are just a bit on the bright side IMO.
Equipment: PSA Trio C100, PSA Digital Link III DAC, Magnaplane MMG, Dayton 10" SW

(The Long Version)
Comparing the C-100 with my Panasonic SA-XR50 (also a class-d amp), the Panny has a brighter and cooler presentation. This compliments certain music rather well such as Gary Burton’s vibes from the album ‘Matchbook’. With the Panny, the high notes of Burton’s vibraphone give a pleasant ring in your ear with decays that seem to last forever. Of course this is a matter of personal taste and some listeners may find the effect to be too much. The presentation of the C-100 doesn’t resonate the vibes in your ears but probably is more accurate.

When compared to the C-100, the Panny is a bit edgier on some recordings, although I didn’t notice this until I did a direct comparison to the C-100. On Oregon’s “Music Of Another Present Era”, the obo and guitar combination on some tracks were a bit grating with the Panny (only when compared with the C-100). This has something to do with the recording but the Panny accentuated the problem I believe.

The Panny equals the C-100 in detail with a similar well focused but (maybe) slightly smaller soundstage. On concentrated listening, the Panny lacks a bit of depth. The soundstage on the C-100 may be a tad bigger with performers that seem slightly taller. The sound of the C-100 is smoother and more refined. The C-100 ‘feels’ like it has more juice than the Panny and drives my MMGs to loud levels without strain. The Panny has a slightly softer bass. I use a Dayton 10” subwoofer in my system.

Comparing my Jolida 1501 (a tube/MOSFET hybrid), both the Panny and the C-100 have better detail and a tighter soundstage. The Jolida’s soundstage is similar in size to the C-100 but more diffused. The Jolida has softer bass than both. The bass is not as deep and blooms a bit in comparison. The Jolida’s sound is warmer over all. The Jolida’s high end is slightly less extended but smooth but mellow. The Jolida has some very nice qualities but it’s a different presentation than class-d.

When I played Miles Davis’s ‘Flamingo Sketches’ alternate take, I listened with all three of the above amps. With the Jolida, at first I thought Jimmy Cobb’s brush strokes on the snare drum were actually the sounds of Master Tape hiss for a split second. With the brighter Panny I could tell instantly they were brush strokes that varied in pitch. With the C-100, the brushes sounded granular, varied in pitch and gave the impression of moving in a circular motion (which they were of course).

On Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” in the track “On The Run”, the sounds of ‘running footsteps - out of breath’ never sounded so distinct as with the Trio C-100.

Both male and female vocals are warm and in-the-room-real. Diana Krall’s “Live In Paris” is something special to experience.

The C-100 works well with my MMGs driving them to loud levels without strain. PS Audio specs are 100w @ 8ohms with peaks @ 150w and 200w @ 4 ohms with peaks @ 300w. But the C-100 is supposed to be a combination of the P-200 preamp and the A-100 power amp. The A-100 is rated at 300w/ch into 4 ohms therefore I would expect the C-100 to be rated the same. At any rate the C-100 delivers amazing amounts of juice for such a small form factor.

I think system matching may be important with the C-100. I wouldn’t combine the Trio C-100 with darker speakers such as a Vandersteen 1C. I rate my MMGs as on the slightly bright side of neutral, whereas the C-100 may be slightly warm. My PC is used exclusively as my source in combination with a PS Audio Digital Link III DAC which up-samples to 24/96 or 24/192. I always use the 192 kHz setting which gives a very slightly brighter presentation. This total combination works really well. The amp is extremely efficient never getting past warm. Appearances are important too. I like the small size and contoured face plate. I describe it as the ‘less-is-better-than-more’ Zen simple look.

For me the most important aspect of any system is detail and imaging. The amp excels at presenting detail with a very strong soundstage. Since it’s slightly warm it’s easy to listen for extended periods without fatigue. That is one area where it is noticeably better than the Panny XR50. It’s hard for me to find any faults with sound of the C-100 since it matches up so well with the MMGs. Keep in mind that I may be a bit biased in my opinion.

There are some mods available for this amp which could further improve its performance. I haven’t heard a modded C-100 so I don’t know if its worth the expense or not. In stock form the Trio C-100 is quite good.


Peace

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Product Weakness:	Poor remote, break-in period required
Product Strengths:	Non-Fatiguing, Imaging and detail, Compact/Efficient/Sweet Appearance

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	PS Audio Trio C-100
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	PS Audio Digital Link III DAC, PC w/iTunes
Speakers:	Magneplane MMG
Cables/Interconnects:	Heavy/Generic
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz. FZ, Rock, Soft Machine, Passport
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 18 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Throw Rug On Hardwood, Draperies, Stuffed Furnature
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 Month (100-150 hrs)
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	N/A Zippo

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