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The Stellar Gain Cell DAC from PS Audio integrates a Class A balanced analog preamplifier, a full-featured DAC capable of handling PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD128, and a powerful Class A headphone amplifier in one chassis. It features an analog Gain Cell volume control that varies gain without adding circuitry in the signal path, preserving signal purity. The DAC section uses ESS Sabre Hyperstream architecture with Digital Lens technology for jitter reduction and superior sound quality. It supports multiple digital inputs including asynchronous USB, optical, coaxial, and I2S, with selectable digital filters for sonic fine-tuning. The unit offers balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs, home theater bypass, polarity control, and two 12V trigger outputs. The Stellar Gain Cell DAC is hand-built in Colorado and It has been discontinued and replaced by the newer Stellar DAC model, which separates the DAC and preamp functions into distinct units.
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
Analog signal output specifications
Input and output connections
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
Components that show up alongside the Stellar Gain Cell in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The nova300's power @ 8ω is 300W against the Stellar Gain Cell's 20W and its signal-to-noise 105 dB against 110 dB. Both share bit depth (32-bit) and max sample rate (384 kHz).
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
The A-S801's power @ 8ω is 100W against the Stellar Gain Cell's 20W and its signal-to-noise 99 dB against 110 dB. Both share bit depth (32-bit) and max sample rate (384 kHz).
Both turn up in the same documented systems.
The R28 MK3's thd is 0.010% against the Stellar Gain Cell's 0.050% and its output impedance 5Ω against 4Ω. Both share bit depth (32-bit) and max sample rate (384 kHz).
The SA20's power @ 8ω is 90W against the Stellar Gain Cell's 20W, its max sample rate 192 kHz against 384 kHz, and its signal-to-noise 106 dB against 110 dB. Both share bit depth (32-bit).
Wadia di122
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