Description
PS Audio StellarGold Preamplifier
The PS Audio StellarGold Preamplifier is the backbone of premium audio setups, overseeing input choices, initiating the amplification process, managing volume and balance, and ensuring electrical separation between sound sources and amplifiers.
When you add the StellarGold Preamplifier into your audio chain—bridging devices like DACs, phono preamps, tuners, or other auxiliaries with your amplifier—a magical sonic revelation unfolds: more realism, life, and space around each performer.
It’s time to take control of your system and add that missing element, a great preamplifier. StellarGold.
View Owners Manual >> View PS AUDIO >>
Reviews
- “It’s sweet, it’s engaging. No listening fatigue. Lot’s of resolution but never hardness. But it does have this powerful sound. It makes your power amplifier sound more powerful”. Steve Guttenberg – Audiophiliac
- “Since I was only able to listen to pianist and orchestra live recently, I particularly appreciate the timbre fidelity and accuracy of the PMG preamplifier here.” HIFI Statement – Roland Dietl
Features
The StellarGold Preamplifier is a remarkably musical instrument. It is an excellent uncompromised interface between your sources and power amplifier.
Designed by Darren Myers, the StellarGold outperforms preamplifiers at anywhere near its price.
Preamplifiers play a critical role in any separates audio system, strategically positioned between sources of music: CD players, phono preamps, DACs, tape recorders and tuners – and your power amplifier – the preamp serves essential roles of control and isolation.
Control is simple in concept, but extraordinarily difficult to design in an acoustically transparent manner. Control duties such as input switching, volume, balance, and amplification can place unwanted acoustic thumbprints on the music if not designed with extraordinary care.
The StellarGold is one amazing preamplifier that we can’t wait for you to hear in your system.
Design
The StellarGold Preamplifier features two hand crafted discrete audio amplification stages, both enjoying extremely high slew rate, high bandwidth, low distortion signal handling capabilities that honor the music.
Based on a combination of JFET and BJT devices along with hand-selected purist components, the musical signal is delivered without the interference of capacitors in the signal path.
Each amplification stage is based on a minimal global feedback design that achieves its low distortion status through careful balancing and high current design choices.
Lastly, its high current class A output stage is more than capable of driving long cable lengths without compromise so that your power amplifier enjoy all the benefits StellarGold Preamplifier has to offer.
Application
Preamplifiers are the heart of any standalone audio system, controlling musical sources like DACs, phono preamps, and tuners.
Bridging these sources to your power amplifier without adding any kind of sonic thumbprint is a challenge the StellarGold preamplifier takes on without any hesitation.
Life, energy, and a sweet analog presentation are at the heart of this remarkable piece of equipment’s performance.
The StellarGold Preamplifier features 4 identical balanced and single ended inputs, and converts all input signals into a balanced signal for the lowest possible distortion, and can be used in a two-channel audio system or as part of a home theater system.
Inside Story
At the heart of any preamplifier are the gain stage that provides the amplification, and the volume control that manages how loud or soft the music plays. Inside the StellarGold preamplifier is an all new high slew rate, low feedback, discrete JFET BJT hybrid that has remarkably low distortion without relying upon high levels of sound-squashing global feedback.
Volume is controlled by a fully balanced precision electronic version of a stepped attenuator. A large, oversized high-current transformer feeds the StellarGold Preamp’s power supply, which ensures that the unit can reproduce music with a wide dynamic range, without compression or distortion.
Fully-balanced circuitry with a bandwidth that extends almost to DC on the low end and well above audibility on the high end are responsible for the effortless presentation of music StellarGold preamplifier owners will enjoy. Openness, transparency, increased space around instruments—voices come alive in ways most never thought possible.
The Build
The designer’s goal was to build a high slew rate, high bandwidth, open-sounding amplification stage that imparts no sonic signature and produces natural, open, music with affectation.
All inputs are balanced as soon as they enter the StellarGold Preamplifier. Input switching is accomplished through hand-selected double-pole double-throw, gold plated relays that they’ve chosen for their sonic neutrality.
High-performance pure-analog audio products like the StellarGold Preamplifier benefit from the use of high grade Audiophile capacitors and the finest discrete parts. Hand crafted to measure and sound remarkable, this StellarGold preamplifier will bring an amazing level of performance to any level of purist audio system ever made.
If you’re interested in making audio magic, audition for yourself the remarkable StellarGold Preamplifier.
FAQ’s
- What role does the PS Audio StellarGold Preamplifier play in a hi-fi system? It acts as the control center, managing source selection and volume while preserving signal purity and musical detail.
- Is the StellarGold Preamplifier fully balanced? Yes, it features a fully balanced design to minimize noise and maximize clarity and dynamic performance.
- What connections does the StellarGold Preamplifier offer? It provides multiple balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) inputs and outputs for flexible system integration.
- Does the StellarGold Preamplifier add coloration to the sound? No, it is designed for ultra-low noise and distortion, delivering a neutral and highly transparent sound.
- Is the StellarGold Preamplifier easy to integrate and use? Yes, it offers intuitive controls and seamless compatibility with PS Audio and other high-end audio components.
Specifications
Physical
- Unit Weight: 24.1 lbs or 10.9 kg
- Unit Dimensions: 17″W x 3.3″H x 13″D (with knob, without knob 12″D) / [43.18 cm x 8.38 cm x 33.02 (with knob, without 30.48 cm)]
- Shipping Weight: 27.6 lbs or 12.5 kg
- Shipping Dimensions: 22″W x 8″H x 17″D / [55.88 cm x 20.32 cm x 43.18 cm]
Power Requirements
- Input Power: Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz
- Power Consumption: 15W
Connectors
- Audio Inputs: RCA / Single-Ended: 2 pair / XLR / Balanced: 2 pair
- Audio Outputs: RCA / Single-Ended: 2 pair / XLR / Balanced: 2 pair
- Trigger Output: 2
- USB: For USB firmware update only
Performance
- Max Gain: 12.6dB
- Frequency Response: 15Hz-150kHz, +/- 0.1dB
- Input Impedance: 50K Ω RCA / Single-Ended / 100K Ω XLR / Balanced
- Bandwidth: 5Hz-500kHz, -3dB
- THD: < .0002% @ 1kHz, 1VRMS input
- THD+N: < .0003% @ 1kHz, 1VRMS input
- IMD: .0005% @ 1VRMS input, CCIF, 20kHz mean, 1kHz difference
- Crosstalk: -115dB, One channel driven
- Output level: 10VRMS Single-ended / 20VRMS Balanced @ 1% THD+N
- Output Impedance: 100Ω
