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Stellar DAC

Stellar DAC

Currently in Beta Testing

Stellar DAC brings wonderful imaging and musicality to any high-performance system at a price you can afford.
Stellar DAC embodies everything PS Audio has strived for in high-value electronics. From its clean and rich tonal balance to its wickedly wonderful imaging, this DAC can be the centerpiece of your music system. Stellar DAC features a built-in Digital Lens, I²S inputs, adjustable filters, and a hand-matched class-A analog output stage that offers breathtaking clarity and musicality. Rediscover the wealth of music in your library with Stellar. Rich, sweet, and always a musical treat, Stellar DAC is our best value in bringing life to music.
Regular price $2,199.00 USD
Regular price $1,899.00 USD Sale price $2,199.00 USD
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  • Design

    The idea of building an affordable, high-performance Digital to Analog Converter that can act as the center of an audiophile's music system was at the core of our engineering efforts with Stellar DAC. At this instrument's heart is the industry-leading Sabre32 bit Hyperstream Digital to Analog converter as fed by PS Audio's own Digital Lens reclocking circuit. Once the incoming digital audio data has been accumulated and organized, the Digital Lens outputs near-perfect data without jitter for an amazingly clear and clean image. Stellar DAC features a fully balanced Class A analog output stage with multiple power supplies, DSD, I²S, and asynchronous USB. Stellar DAC is a winner in any system.

  • Application

    The Stellar DAC is a full-function Digital Analog Converter that can take in any digital source, from DSD to PCM, and output low distortion, high-resolution fully balanced analog. It is all you need as the basis for a reference quality digitally based music system. Add a power amplifier and a pair of loudspeakers, and using Stellar DAC's built-in lossless volume control, you'll be reveling in sonic bliss within moments. Connect a computer, CD player, streamer, AirLens, or digital source of any kind to any of Stellar's multiple digital inputs, and you've just built one of the highest-value music systems in the world.

    Technology

    Think of the Stellar DAC as the gateway to building a high-performance audio system at a down-to-earth price. Whether your dream system's main source of music is digital, or you're building a hybrid of both vinyl and digital, Stellar DAC offers great sonics that can bring a level of musicality to any system. Stellar DAC supports pure DSD, asynchronous USB, Digital Lens technology, I²S to connect to our best transport, balanced throughout. 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. The Stellar DAC is the perfect foundation for those on a budget but are unwilling to compromise sound quality. Rich. Lush. Powerful. A music lover’s answer to spiraling cost-no-object equipment without sacrifice. In the more than fifty years of PS Audio’s design innovations and breakthrough products, Stellar’s groundbreaking level of performance as our gateway standalone DAC is unmatched for price and performance by its standalone competitors.

    silver
    • CLASS A BALANCED ANALOG OUTPUT STAGE
    • FULL FUNCTION DAC
    • FIXED OR VARIABLE DAC MODE
    • HYBRID DESIGN
    • BALANCED XLR OUTPUT
    • DIGITAL LENS TECHNOLOGY
    • THREE SELECTABLE DIGITAL FILTERS
    • CPLD (FPGA) INPUT
    • HIGH-CURRENT OVERSIZED ANALOG POWER SUPPLY
    • LATEST ESS HYPERSTREAM
    • NO CAPACITORS IN OUTPUT SIGNAL PATH
    • SINGLE AND DOUBLE RATE DSD
    • DSD DIRECT THROUGH I2S
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    Specifications - Stellar DAC

    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
    Silver
    Power requirements
    Input Power Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz
    Power Consumption 25W
    Digital audio inputs
    Inputs I2S (2), Coax (2), Optical, USB
    Sample Rates I2S: 2 inputs
    - PCM 44.1KHz to 384Khz, DSD64, DSD128, DSD256
    Coax: 2 inputs
    - PCM 44.1KHz - 192KHz
    Optical: 1 input
    - PCM 44.1kHZ - 192KHz
    USB: 1 input
    - PCM 44.1kHZ - 384KHz
    - DSD64, DSD128 (native)
    - DSD64, DSD128 (DoP)
    Analog Audio Output
    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-55kHz, -1dB
    Max Output 4V RMS Balanced, 2V RMS single-ended
    THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale) <0.003% at full output
    IMD <0.004%, CCIF, at full output
    SNR 110dB, 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
    Word Length (PCM) 16-32 bit
    Data Rate (DSD) Up to DSD256 (11.2MHz) Native
    Digital Volume Control Yes
    Analog Conversion ES9018K2M DAC Chip
    I2S Digital Input
    Connector HDMI
    Format PCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as native DSD on
    USB Digital Input
    Connector USB "B" Type
    Format PCM, DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM), or Native DSD
    Transfer Mode Asynchronous

    Questions?