# Audiostream Mini Review PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp

**URL:** <https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audiostream-mini-review-ps-audio-stellar-gain-cell-dac-preamp/5384>\
**Category:** Preamplifiers\
**Created:** [March 14, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audiostream-mini-review-ps-audio-stellar-gain-cell-dac-preamp/5384 "2018-03-14T21:37:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![watchdog507](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/watchdog507/32/7301_2.png) [@watchdog507](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/watchdog507)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audiostream-mini-review-ps-audio-stellar-gain-cell-dac-preamp/5384/1 "2018-03-14T21:37:04Z")

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More good Press about the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp! This was just in my email inbox.

> **[PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp](https://www.audiostream.com/content/ps-audio-stellar-gain-cell-dacpreamp)**
>
> Device Type: Preamplifier/Digital to Analog Converter See Full SpecificationsAvailability: Direct OnlinePrice: $1,699.00Website: www.psaudio.com

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**Author:** ![bdbender4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@bdbender4](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/bdbender4)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/audiostream-mini-review-ps-audio-stellar-gain-cell-dac-preamp/5384/2 "2018-03-29T13:20:28Z")

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I have had the Stellar combination - Gain Cell Dac plus S300 amp - for about a month now. I note that in Michael Lavorgna’s review it doesn’t get FPGA credit, although apparently it has a “simplified” FPGA. Maybe it’s because this one is not upgradeable?

At any rate, this setup sounds great. I had a Wyred4Sound integrated amp with the previous generation IcePower boards in it. I also had one of their DACs, and more recently a Metrum non-oversampling DAC. No disrespect to either of these outfilts, their stuff is well made and sounds good. The Metrum DAC, especially, has a different and interesting sound. I was hoping this combination would be a step in the evolutions of Class D sound, and all I really want to say is: it is. Good sound, and good functionality. And the “digital lens” seems to have smoothed out the ESS sound a bit. Not missing the Metrum DAC, which I really liked.

Finally, over the years I have had a love/hate relationship with tubes. Love the sound, hate the fiddlyness. When I say a step in the evolution of Class D sound, this setup is good enough that I don’t have any desire to put either of my two remaining tube amps back into the system. This was not true with the previous generation IcePower stuff.