dan m
pfm Member
I have been looking around for a new preamp with built in dac and balanced outputs for a while. Often the analog side is neglected or appears to be a convenience or maybe limited to just one input (e.g. Mytek Brooklyn/Benchmark). Not good, since I most like to listen to vinyl. Yesterday I came across a new pre from PSAudio:
http://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-gain-cell-dac/
Ticks all the boxes for me feature-wise and coupled with a generous trade in program, I've ordered one as part of their beta tester program. They are locally made, so I dropped by the factory on ~2 hours notice and was given a fantastic tour. I must say they are a very friendly bunch and are really into what they are doing. The new line looks great. At this price point you often see boxes from stamped steel, but this is wrapped in brushed aluminum. I have ordered black. I hope it sounds as good as it looks.
Specs:
Class A balanced analog preamplifier
Full function DAC
Class A headphone output
Remote control
27 pounds
2 output 12 volt triggers
One balanced analog input
Three single ended analog inputs
Analog Gain Cell stage
Fully balanced input to output
Balanced XLR analog output
Single ended RCA analog output
Direct coupled without any capacitors in output signal path
Four digital inputs
I2S input
Digital Lens technology
Three user selectable digital filters
Compatible with PS Audio DMP for SACD playback in DSD
DSD direct through I2S
192kHz asynchronous coax and TOSLINK inputs
192kHz asynchronous USB
Single and double rate DSD
CPLD input (FPGA) lowers jitter, waveshapes, reduces propagation delay
Native mode standard
No added Sample Rate Conversion
High current class A hybrid output stage
Passive output filter lowers transient distortion
Direct coupled without any capacitors in output signal path
High bandwidth output stage -3dB 60kHz
Low jitter clocks
High Current oversized analog power supply
7 voltage regulators
High speed power supply diodes
Massive 15,000 mFd low ESR capacitors
ESS Hyperstream
http://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-gain-cell-dac/
Ticks all the boxes for me feature-wise and coupled with a generous trade in program, I've ordered one as part of their beta tester program. They are locally made, so I dropped by the factory on ~2 hours notice and was given a fantastic tour. I must say they are a very friendly bunch and are really into what they are doing. The new line looks great. At this price point you often see boxes from stamped steel, but this is wrapped in brushed aluminum. I have ordered black. I hope it sounds as good as it looks.
Specs:
Class A balanced analog preamplifier
Full function DAC
Class A headphone output
Remote control
27 pounds
2 output 12 volt triggers
One balanced analog input
Three single ended analog inputs
Analog Gain Cell stage
Fully balanced input to output
Balanced XLR analog output
Single ended RCA analog output
Direct coupled without any capacitors in output signal path
Four digital inputs
I2S input
Digital Lens technology
Three user selectable digital filters
Compatible with PS Audio DMP for SACD playback in DSD
DSD direct through I2S
192kHz asynchronous coax and TOSLINK inputs
192kHz asynchronous USB
Single and double rate DSD
CPLD input (FPGA) lowers jitter, waveshapes, reduces propagation delay
Native mode standard
No added Sample Rate Conversion
High current class A hybrid output stage
Passive output filter lowers transient distortion
Direct coupled without any capacitors in output signal path
High bandwidth output stage -3dB 60kHz
Low jitter clocks
High Current oversized analog power supply
7 voltage regulators
High speed power supply diodes
Massive 15,000 mFd low ESR capacitors
ESS Hyperstream
