Alfalover
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Stereophile's 2020 Analogue Component of the Year:
Another triumph of a high-value component and the second straight victory in this category for a phono preamplifier. (Last year's winner was the Sutherland Engineering Little Loco.) What set the Stellar Phono apart from the crowd was the fact that it's fully competitive with far more expensive phono preamplifiers, and almost as good as the very best, at a fraction of the price. Fremer deployed the Stellar Phono in the context of a $200,000 front end, with more than $200,000 in amplification and $100,000 speakers, and put it up against phono preamplifiers costing more than 20 times as much, including the Ypsilon VP100 (silver edition) phono preamp with the MC16LSUT step-up transformer and the CH Precision P1 phono preamplifier with its matching X1 power supply.
And it held its own. "The midrange on this phono preamp is as open, uncongested, transparent, and revealing as that of any phono preamp I've heard at any price," Mikey wrote. In midrange terms, the Stellar is "the darTZeel of phono preamplifiers."
"I recommend a listen to the Stellar to anyone in the market for a new phono preamp, regardless of price," Mikey concluded. "I don't think I've ever written that before."
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From PS Audio web site:
Stellar Phono Preamplifier
Our finest phono preamplifier in the company's 45-year history. All analog from input to output, this stunning addition to the Stellar line will bring new life to your vinyl in ways you never dreamt possible.
PS engineer Darren Myers wiped the tradition slate clean by hand-fashioning a new approach to capturing all the magic trapped in the grooves of our records. The results are breathtaking. Music that might once have been locked into the confines of our loudspeakers is suddenly free. Stellar phono features dual inputs that can support either a moving coil or moving magnet cartridge. Cartridge loading and gain options are easily adjusted from your listening position via the supplied remote control. Input to output, Stellar is a fully discrete FET design with extraordinarily low noise and high overload capabilities so even the wildest dynamics from the punchiest cartridges sail through Stellar with no limitations or compromise whatsoever. If you love vinyl you’ll love Stellar.
Phono preamplifiers at anywhere near this price range are almost always integrated circuit based, but not Stellar. Input to output, Stellar is a fully discrete FET design with extraordinarily low noise and high overload capabilities so even the wildest dynamics from the punchiest cartridges sail through Stellar with no limitations or compromise whatsoever.
FEATURES:
Moving Magnet and Moving Coil preamplifier
Fixed and variable cartridge loading adjustable from remote control
Up to 70dB of ultra low noise gain for MC cartridges as low as 0.15mv
Two inputs for two tonearms selectable from remote control
Single ended and balanced outputs
All discrete FET design
Class A analog circuitry throughout
No ICs in signal path
Up to 20V rms output for unparaleled headroom and dynamics
Passive RIAA curve for seamless performance
Hand selected premium discrete components
DC coupled from input to output for unfettered bass
Ultra low noise discrete pre and post voltage regulation stages
Low internal feedback for increased transparency and openness
No complimentary FET transistors for lifelike performance
High current oversized power transformer
Remote control
Front panel standby button
STELLAR PHONO PREAMPLIFIER
Unit Weight 21.6lbs. (9.8 kg) Unit Dimensions 17”W x 13”D x 3.25”H (43cm x 33.02cm x 8.255cm) Shipping Weight 25.1lbs (11.4 kg) Shipping Dimensions 22”W x 8”H x 17”D (55.88cm x 43.18cm x 20.32cm) Mains Power Input IEC C14 Idle Power Consumption 26W Fuse:120V: T250V-1.6AH (1.6A Slow Blow) Audio Inputs RCA (Unbalanced) MM,MC Audio Outputs RCA (Unbalanced) 1 Stereo Pair XLR (Balanced) 1 Stereo Pair DC Trigger 3.5mm 12VDC (2)
Performance:
All measurements are with both channels operating, gain set to low, and balanced outputs. Input frequency is 1kHz. Gain MM: 44dB, 50dB, 56dB MC: 60dB, 66dB, 72dB Input Loading MM: 47KΩ (100pF) MC: 60Ω, 100Ω, 200Ω, 47KΩ, Custom 1-1KΩ Output Impedance Unbalanced <200Ω Balanced <200Ω per leg Frequency Response 20Hz – 20KHz +/- 0.25dB THD 0.5V out @ 1kHz: <0.01% Maximum Output @1%THD: 24VRMS Overload Margin @1kHz: >22dB S/N Ratio MM: >82dB A-Weighted MC: >74dB A-Weighted Interchannel Crosstalk >74dB Power Consumption 26W
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