Preamplifiers
More realism, life and space around each musician.
The preamplifier is the heart of your system. Ours are control centers engineered to preserve every nuance, so nothing comes between you and the music.
What are you building?
New to preamplifiers?
The preamplifier is the heart of a separates system. It selects your source, amplifies its signal, controls the volume, and isolates your sources from your power amplifier. Done well, you hear more realism, life and space around each musician. A phono preamplifier does the first part of that job for a turntable, boosting and equalizing the faint signal from your cartridge.
For separates
Line preamplifiers
Fully balanced circuitry, discrete Class A stages and stepped attenuators. Ultra-low noise and vanishing distortion.
PMG Signature Preamplifier
Designed for your finest system, with a PMG Signature amplifier
Why choose itNothing added between you and the music Choose it for a reference system or a PMG Signature amplifier. Zero-feedback circuits and a film-capacitor power supply, with distortion under 0.0003% and a noise floor of −145 dB.
- Balanced XLR inputs and output
- Stepped volume control
- Direct coupled: no capacitors in the signal path
StellarGold Preamplifier
Designed for most systems with several sources
Why choose itRoom for every source Choose it if you have several sources, including RCA gear. Eight inputs and balance control, with Class A sound at less than half the PMG's price.
- XLR and RCA outputs
- Stepped volume, with balance
- Class A, fully balanced
For turntables
Phono preamplifiers
All analog from input to output, boosting and equalizing the faint signal from your cartridge.
PMG Signature Phono Preamplifier
Designed for a reference turntable and cartridge
Why choose itThe most from a great cartridge Choose it if you own a high-end moving-coil cartridge. Its transimpedance input is built for moving-coil, with zero feedback from input to output.
- 2 tonearm inputs
- MM and MC, fixed and variable loading
- Balanced XLR output
Stellar Phono Preamplifier
Designed for any turntable, any cartridge
Why choose itGreat sound from any turntable Choose it to start a vinyl system or replace a built-in phono stage. Moving magnet or moving coil, adjustable loading and a remote, at a third of the PMG's price.
- 2 tonearm inputs
- MM and MC, fixed and variable loading
- Single-ended and balanced inputs
Rather not build a stack?
Have it all in one box.
There's no reason to give up performance. A preamplifier, a full-featured DAC, a phono stage and a 150-watt amplifier, in one chassis. Just add speakers.
Stellar Strata MK2 · $3,499
View Strata MK2What you'll hear
Clear and uncolored
Nothing added to the sound between your sources and your amplifier.
A silent background
Ultra-low noise and vanishing distortion, so the quietest details come through.
Lifelike space
Fast, natural transients and a real sense of where each musician stands.
The difference
Do you need a separate preamplifier?
A preamplifier chooses what you're listening to and controls the volume. Whether you need a separate one depends on your system.
If you only stream
You may not need one
Your DAC or streamer can control the volume on its own.
If you have an integrated amplifier
You already have one
It's built in. Strata MK2 is one example.
If you want the best sound
Yes, add a separate one
It keeps your sources apart from the amplifier, for more realism, life and space around each musician.
Compare all 5 side by side
| Model | PMG Signature Preamplifier | StellarGold Preamplifier | PMG Signature Phono Preamplifier | Stellar Phono Preamplifier | Stellar Strata MK2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $8,999 | $3,999 | $8,999 | $2,999 | $3,499 |
| Connections | Balanced XLR inputs and output | 4 XLR and 4 RCA inputs, XLR and RCA outputs | Two tonearm inputs, balanced XLR output | Two tonearm inputs, balanced and single-ended | Digital and phono inputs, headphone output |
| Volume | Precision stepped attenuator | Precision stepped attenuator, with balance | — | — | Built-in preamplifier |
| Circuit | Pure Class A, zero-feedback Diamond buffers | Class A, fully balanced, discrete | Zero feedback, Class A, Diamond buffers | All analog, discrete FET, Class A | Class A preamplifier and headphone amp |
| Family | PMG Signature, designed by Darren Myers | Stellar, designed by Darren Myers | — | — | Stellar |
| Cartridges | — | — | Moving magnet and moving coil, fixed and variable loading | Moving magnet and moving coil, adjustable loading | — |
| Gain | — | — | 70 dB, for cartridges down to 0.15 mV | Up to 70 dB, for cartridges down to 0.15 mV | — |
