 |
  Stereo Products > GCA Power Amplifier GCA Power Amplifiers More Info Starting at just $2,295.00!  From the moment you unpack your new GCA amp, press the logo on the front panel and watch the gentle splash of soft blue light wash over the machined aluminum faceplate, you know you’re in for a treat. Pride of ownership is the first emotion and awe the second. A power amp like no power amplifier you have ever owned.Pure Power™ has been the watchword of PS Audio for a long time. We first used it when we introduced the Power Plant series of AC regenerators many years ago. Now, with the introduction of the new GCA series of stereo power amplifiers we are using it again; but in a musical sense. Pure Power and Pure Resolution™ are two very good descriptions of the performance you can expect from this new line of audio amplifiers. The GCA series is the finest sounding and best performing power amplifiers we have ever designed and produced in the 30 year history of PS Audio. Uncompromising in all respects, the GCA series of amplifiers is based on revolutionary new technologies designed by PS engineering to breath life into any audio video system at power levels sufficient for all loudspeakers. To celebrate the beauty inside we commissioned master industrial designer Alex Rasmussen to design the beauty outside. In one of Alex's greatest designs the flowing 3/4' machined front panel sweeps in gentle curves that speak of the purity and flow inside. The subtle wash of blue is an elegant reminder that that this amp needs no glitzy lights and garish bells and whistles to announce its superiority. Every touch of the amp, every view of the amp speaks of simple beauty and purity of design. Three models  The GCA series of power amplifiers consists of three models, the GCA 100, GCA 250 and GCA 500. Each model number denotes the 8 Ohm power rating of the amplifier and each of the GCA series will double its power rating into a 4 Ohm load. Since the vast majority of loudspeakers are 4 Ohms, you can effectively double the wattage of each of these amplifiers in most environments. So wattage ratings on the GCA series range from 100 watts per channel to a whopping 1000 watts per channel, both channels driven. Dual mono and completely independent This is an amazing series of power amplifiers. Based on the new PS Audio Gain Cell technology, each GCA power amplifier contains two independent Gain Cells and two completely independent mono SDAT™ power modules. Aside from the fact that each GCA amplifier shares a common power cable, inside they are absolutely separate and isolated power amplifiers, each 100% independent of the other for true dual mono amplification. Gain Cells inside You can read the entire story of the revolutionary new PS Audio Gain Cell™ by clicking here to view the page.  A brief overview of the Gain Cell™ would show that it is the heart of the new GCA power amplifier as well as the heart of our new preamplifier, integrated amplifier and multi-channel amplifier. The Gain Cell, developed over the last 25 years of research and work by PS Audio founder Paul McGowan, was brought to life by the engineering team at PS Audio and now graces the insides of every audio product we manufacture. A Gain Cell is about the most perfect gain block ever invented. Gain Cells are fully balanced analog gain devices that are direct coupled from input to output in one of the cleanest, purest audio paths ever devised. PS designers can drop a Gain Cell into a PS designed power amplifier, preamplifier, CD player, integrated amplifier or any imaginable audio product and the Gain Cell becomes the heart and soul of that product. Gain Cells have fully adjustable gain over a 130dB range with close to zero distortion and noise, and are the perfect gain block for any audio product. Each GCA power amplifier channel has its own Gain cell. The Gain Cell is the first thing your preamplifier will see when connected to the GCA power amplifier. The Gain cell will take the output of your preamplifier or surround processor, eliminate much of the noise and hum found in your cables and present a pure high resolution audio signal to the GCA SDAT output stage. Look! No heat! The power output stage of each GCA amplifier is based on an improved version of PS Audio’s ground breaking  analog Power output stage. Our Class D PWM output stage was first introduced to the world in the (now famous) PS Audio HCA-2 power amplifier which received the coveted Stereophile Class A rating for power amplifiers and adorned the cover of Stereophile magazine.Similar in concept to the original PWM output stage found in the HCA-2, this new high efficiency 100% analog technology uses a fully independent and regulated switching power supply to feed each of the power modules, virtually eliminating any need for input power transformers and heavy magnetics. Because each analog power module has its own regulated power supply, each channel of the amplifier operates without regard to the other channel and consequently we can honestly boast of true dual mono operation within each GCA amplifier. PS power amplifiers are unique because they generate almost no heat. Using PWM technology, the output MOSFET transistors inside the analog power module operate in their most efficient manner and we are able to achieve upwards of 85% efficiency for the entire GCA amplifier. Compare that to a typical class AB amplifier’s efficiency of 50% and even worse for a tube or class A amplifier. No heat sinks! Notice there are no heat sinks on this beauty, no fans, no need for any type of special mounting or cooling techniques. The GCA amplifier runs cool and quietly, sounds unbelievably good and provides more power than any system is capable of fully using.  Super linearity Another advantage of our analog power technology is linearity. No power amplifier, whether tube or solid state can boast perfect linearity without the use of feedback or other Band Aids to help linearize the amplifier’s performance. With a high efficiency power circuit on the output, voltage-in equals voltage-out in an absolutely linear fashion. The net result of this linearity is an effortless sound regardless of volume. From micro dynamics to macro dynamics, this amplifier sounds the same on the softest passages to the loudest orchestral crescendos, a feat unmatched by any tube or solid state amplifier ever made. High damping factor One of the classic problems with PWM and tube types of power amplifiers is a low damping factor due to the requisite output filter or output transformer depending on the design. Damping factor is a means of measuring how well the power amp can control the loudspeaker. A damping factor of 100 to 200 is considered excellent. The first PWM amplifier we built, the HCA-2, had a damping factor at low frequencies of just under 100, a mighty feat in itself when you consider most PWM and tube based amplifiers are lucky to have damping  factors above 25 or 30. A low damping factor means that the volume of the speaker will change with the varying load impedance of the speaker! This is not a good situation when high end audio is a goal.The new GCA series power amplifiers has a damping factor in the thousands, a 10 times increase in control over the loudspeaker than any other amplifier on the market. When you hear the authority and control any of the three GCA amplifiers presents in your listening room you’ll be setback on your heels. Jaw dropping bass and authority are just a few of the benefits provided by this extraordinary feature of the GCA amp. Keeping the hybrid concept alive Inside each GCA amplifier is a Gain Cell powering an SDAT module. This combination of analog input stage and an ultra-efficient digital output stage is called a hybrid design because it incorporates the best of two worlds, analog and digital. Our first SDAT powered amplifier, the HCA-2, was named after another famous hybrid, the Infinity Hybrid Class A. In honor of this ground breaking amplifier that combined tubes and solid state transistors in a single design, we named the HCA-2 after the Infinity product. The GCA series is also a hybrid in this same manner, but we named the GCA in honor of an even more revolutionary invention, the Gain Cell™. The Gain Cell Amplifier (GCA) takes the hybrid concept to another level altogether. The models The three models of GCA amplifiers include the GCA 100, GCA 250 and GCA 500. Each is a dual mono two  channel amplifier and each can be ordered as an integrated (Control Amplifier) amplifier for yet another level of performance in a two-channel system. Each model has a rear mounted three position switch that adjusts the light level of the front panel blue wash to whatever works best in your environment. Speaker outputs are via a single set of high-end gold binding posts that accept either spade or banana plugs. If banana plugs are used, these unique connectors can be tightened down to clamp and hold a standard banana plug so it will lock in place. The connectors are designed by PS Engineering and are the finest bindings posts we know of. Inputs are through either a balanced XLR connector or a high-end RCA connector. There is a rear mounted switch that allows the user to choose either input. The GCA 100 is a stereo, 100 watt per channel power amplifier that produces 200 watt per channel into 4 Ohms and drives speaker loads as low as 1.5 Ohms. It has a damping factor that exceeds 1000 and is capable of driving any moderate loudspeaker to live orchestral crescendo levels. The GCA 100 has an input impedance of 47K Ohms, can be remotely turned on/off with a simple 12 volt trigger, is a fully balanced amplifier, noise is low enough that you’ll have to place your ear next to the tweeter of most speakers to even hear if the amplifier is on and distortion levels below 0.05%. The GCA 100 is a perfect amplifier for most any multi-channel or stereo system and has the best top end and midrange of any of the three models. The GCA 250 is a two channel, 250 watt per channel power amplifier that produces 500 watt per channel  into 4 Ohms and drives down to <1.5 Ohms. It has a damping factor that exceeds 1000 and is the amplifier most people will want to own as its 500 watt per channel rating is more than enough for any loudspeaker system we know of, period. The GCA 250 has an input impedance of 47K Ohms, can be remotely turned on/off with a simple 12 volt trigger, is a fully balanced amplifier, and like the GCA 100, it’s ear in the tweeter to hear any hiss out of this amplifier. Distortion levels below 0.1%. The GCA 250 is the amp of choice for any system whether it’s a stereo or multi-channel application. This beauty can power anything.The GCA 500 is a brute. This is one of the most powerful amplifiers available at any price from any manufacturer in the world. The GCA 500 is a no holds barred stereo, 500 watt per channel power amplifier that produces an incredible 1000 watt per channel, both channels driven into 4 Ohms and is drives down to <1.5 Ohms! It has a damping factor that exceeds 1000 and is the amplifier you will want to choose if you never want to worry about headroom or dynamic capabilities in your system ever again. The GCA 500 has an input impedance of 47K Ohms, can be remotely turned on/off with a simple 12 volt trigger, is a fully balanced amplifier, and like the GCA 100, it’s ear in the tweeter to hear any hiss out of this amplifier. Distortion levels below 0.1%.  The GCA 500 is unequalled in the world of audio amplification. The king, the biggest, baddest power amp around that can play the sweetest violin passage to the loudest rock and roll, dinosaur stomping audio experience this side of the galaxy. If you’ve never witnessed true audio power with limitless headroom and breath sucking performance, this is the one. A triumph in audio amplification From the 100 watt per channel beauty of the GCA 100 to the awesome soul searching, head shaking power of the GCA 500, this new line of Gain Cell Amplifiers from PS Audio is the finest sounding, best performing line of amplifiers in the history of the company. From the moment you press the logo on the front panel, put your ear up the speaker to make sure it’s even on, to the first cut of the first movie or music you play, you’ll be blown away by the effortlessness, the beauty and the passion this amplifier will evoke in every fiber of your being. Utterly reliable, built like the proverbial tank and sculpted by master industrial designer Alex Rasmussen, this is truly a work of art from PS Engineering and one you would be proud to own and enjoy for many years to come. |
 |
How to Buy
Product Details
Related Products
Related Articles
Reviews
Need Help?