What happens when you take a highly respected, cutting edge DAC, like the NuWave DSD, and connect it to your power amplifier through an analog preamp? Audio nirvana.
It turns out that a great analog preamp preserves a DAC’s magic. Together, DAC and preamp form a new class of product whose sum is greater than its parts.
Stellar Gain Cell DAC. A redefined and improved NuWave DSD and a Gain Cell analog preamplifier in one chassis.
Think of the Stellar Gain Cell DAC as a complete analog control center with an exceptional performing DAC at its heart.
All the features and functions you’d ever want in a DAC are right here in Stellar. Pure DSD, asynchronous USB, Digital Lens technology, I²S to connect to the best transport, balanced throughout, analog volume control. Replace your preamplifier, your DAC—or both—and be stunned at the level of improvement when the full and rich tapestry of music surprises and delights your senses.
In the more than forty years of PS Audio’s design innovations and breakthrough products, Stellar’s groundbreaking level of performance as a gateway standalone DAC and preamplifier is unmatched for price and performance by their standalone competitors. Taken together, we’re willing to bet you’ve never heard anything quite this good at anywhere even remotely close to this price.
Specifications
Unit Weight | 13.5 lbs |
Unit Dimensions | 17” x 12” x 3” |
Shipping Weight | 17 lbs |
Shipping Dimensions | 23”x 18” x 9” |
Input Power | Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz |
Power Consumption | 20W |
Mains Power Input | IEC C14 |
Fuses | 100V T250V-2.0AH (2A Slow Blow) 120V T250V-1.6AH (1.6A Slow Blow) 230V T250V-1.0AH (1.0A Slow Blow) |
Accessories included | US (NEMA 5-15P) (all versions) Schuko (CEE7/7) (230V version) UK (BS1363) (230V version) |
RCA XLR |
3 stereo pair 1 stereo pair |
I2S | 1 PCM (384KHz max) DSD64 DSD128 Compatible with DirectStream Transport SACD handshake for DSD playback |
Coax | 2 PCM (192KHz max) |
Optical | 1 PCM (96KHz max) |
USB | PCM (384KHz max) DSD64 (DoP) DSD128 (DoP) |
Format | PCM, DSD |
RCA XLR Headphones |
(Analog Unbalanced) 1 stereo pair (Analog Balanced) 1 stereo pair One 1/4" headphone connector front panel |
Gain Maximum output Sensitivity |
12dB +/-0.5dB 20 Vrms 5.3Vrms |
Input Impedance | 47KΩ single ended RCA 100KΩ Balanced XLR |
Output Impedance | 100Ω single ended RCA 200Ω balanced XLR |
Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20KHz +0/- 0.25dB 10Hz – 100KHz +0.1/-3.0dB |
Noise | 20-20KHz <-90dBV |
S/N Ratio | 1KHz >110dB (max output) |
Channel separation | 1KHz >90dB |
Input separation | 1KHz >90dB |
THD&IM | 1KHz < 0.025% 20-20KHz < 0.05% |
Output power @1% THD | 300Ω 300mW 16Ω 3.25W |
S/N Ratio 1kHz Noise |
>95dB (max output) <-80dBV |
THD & IM 1Vrms out | 300Ω <0.05% 16Ω <0.06% |
Output impedance | <4 Ω |
Volume Control | 0-100 (1/2 and 1dB steps, 80dB total range) |
Balance Control | 24dB each direction in 1/2dB steps |
Home Theater Mode | Assignable to any analog input Adjustable (in setup) to any level |
Polarity (phase) Control | Digital sources only |
Filter Control | 3 selectable digital filters (PCM digital sources only) |
Trigger output | (3.5mm 5-15VDC) 2 |
Remote Control | Yes. Infra Red |