PS Audio StellarGold DAC
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Once in a great while, an exciting new product design direction comes along that really sets a new standard for performance within a price range. Such is the all new StellarGold DAC, a product that will raise the bar for any digital to analog converter at anywhere near the price.
What makes the new StellarGold DAC unique is its use of multiple parallel DACs. Each channel of the StellarGold is built by paralleling 4 high resolution digital to analog converters, then feeding the combined output of these DACs into an all new discrete class A analog output stage. The results are nothing short of stunning.
The use of multiple high-precision DACs to form one ultra-linear channel has the advantage of lowering noise and channel crosstalk while at the same time increasing linearity, dynamic range, and resolution beyond what any single DAC technology can achieve. One listen to this amazing new DAC and you'll know why it easily outperforms single DAC designs.
The new StellarGold DAC, with its advanced parallel DAC architecture, takes advantage of performance standards unavailable to single DAC designs. By using multiple DACs in parallel, individual non-linearities of each DAC tend to average out. This is because the probability of all DACs having the exact same non-linearity error at the same digital input value is nearly zero. The results are nothing short of breathtaking. One listen to this DAC, and you'll know it's in an entirely different category from others at anywhere near its price range.
The StellarGold DAC was designed by Darren Myers whose mission was to discover how far it might be possible to extend the already extraordinary capabilities of the latest technologies of the top-of-the-line ESS DAC platforms. To do this would require the use of multiple DACS, an all new direct-coupled balanced hybrid output stage featuring a slew rate fast enough to do justice to the circuit's capabilities, and then power the entire circuit with multiple stage linear regulators. A tall challenge given StellarGold's affordable pricing. One look inside at this beautifully hand-crafted device and you'll see how the PS Engineering team honored Darren's original vision using only the highest quality parts and the lowest noise designs. The StellarGoild is truly a work of art that deserves your attention.
In high-performance audio DACs, employing four parallel DACs per channel offers a number of sonic benefits. First, it reduces noise through averaging, resulting in an impressive signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 127dB below the DAC's maximum output of 4 volts (balanced). When noise is lowered, and the individual non-linearities of each of the 4 DACs are averaged together, the results are an increase in the effective dynamic range (loudest to softest sounds) and an audible improvement in linearity and distortion. The combined resolution effectively surpasses that of any single DAC of similar design on the market, creating an extraordinary audio experience that only a few people have yet to experience. We can't wait for you to hear StellarGold in your system.
| Physical: | |
| Unit Weight | 22.5 lbs [10.2 kg] |
| Unit Dimensions | 17"W x 3"H x 12" D [43.18 cm x 7.62 cm x 30.48 cm] |
| Shipping Weight | 26 lbs [11.8 kg] |
| Shipping Dimensions | 22"W x 8"H x 17"D [55.88 cm x 20.32 cm x 43.18 cm] |
| Color Options |
Black |
| Power Requirements: | |
| Input Power | Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz |
| Power Consumption | 30W |
| Digital Audio Inputs |
I2S (2), Coax (2), Optical, USB |
| Sample Rates | Optical (TOSLink): PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz and 96kHz S/PDIF (Coax): PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz; DoP64 I2S: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 705.6kHz, and 768kHz; DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256 USB: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, and 384kHz; DoP64, DoP128, DSD64, and DSD128 |
| Analog Audio Output | |
| Output Stage | Discrete fully balanced JFET BJT hybrid |
| Connector | RCA single ended, XLR balanced |
| Output Level High, Maximum | 4 VRMS Balanced 2 VRMS Single Ended |
| Output Impedance | 100Ω / 200Ω |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz-20kHz, +/- 0.1dB; 10Hz-70kHz, -1dB |
| Max Output | 4V RMS Balanced, 2V RMS single-ended |
| THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale) | <0.002% at full output |
| IMD | <0.002%, CCIF, at full output |
| SNR | >127dB, referenced to 4V RMS |
| Data Handling | |
| Format | PCM or DSD |
| Sample Rate (PCM) | 44.1kHz, 48.0kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, 705.6kHz, 768kHz |
| Data Rate (DSD) | Up to DSD256 (11.2MHz) via DoP and Native DSD1024 |
| Digital Volume Control | Yes |
| Analog Conversion Method | ES9038PRO DAC |
| I2S Digital Input: | |
| Connector | HDMI |
| Format | PCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as native DSD on 12S inputs |
| USB Digital Input | |
| Connector | USB "B" Type |
| Format | PCM, DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM), or Native DSD |
| Transfer Mode | Asynchronous |
