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Pure Audio Project Trio 15 Classics, delivered, final on-site assembly and set up by Thomas of Pure Audio Project. Thank-you to Thomas for service extraordinaire! He basically spent the day on the set-up and install while we discussed life. A grand day. Break-in has commenced. Excuse the cabinet which is destined for the dust bin. New rack in coming. Amplification courtesy of Decware, SE84UFO. Adam Rudolph’s Organic Orchestra playing, with Yusef Lateef, In The Garden:
Note: I posted this as a new thread, but Serhan recommended I check out this old thread for an answer. I don’t see a answer to my question, but the individuals who may have the answer have participated in this thread.
I plan to power my high efficiency 100 db/watt meter speakers with low power Decware SET tube amplifiers. I am considering purchasing a used Stellar DAC to pair with these, or other SET tube amps. This will give me a modern interface to control source, volume, and on/off functions with simple SET amps.
Is anyone have experience paring the Stellar Gain Cell DAC with Decware or other SET amps? My concern is the GainCell volume control will impact the SET sound quality.
You need a preamp but do you also need a DAC? Decware make great preamps.
I have used a Coda 02B and Threshold 10e hl to good effect. I have also run with a DAC straight in to my SE84UFO amplifier. I have a 25th anniversary Zen SE84UFO25 on order since early spring 2021. The Stellar may fall short IME. I’d check with Steve at Decware first. As Ron suggests, Decware may have a solution for you at a reasonable price. It will depend on your goals, listening preferences and if you wish to have an all in one preamp/dac.
I answered to the best of my ability on your original thread. I think the Stellar is a very good sounding preamp/DAC for the money, one has to spend considerably more to better it. Sure if you buy a DSD DAC or a Holo May KTE or other very expensive components you can get better sound.
As Steve Deckert states on the site, I don’t even technically need a preamp. Just use the volume knob and the source selection switch on the amp.
However, to make the system were user-friendly for my wife, having a preamp like the Stellar gives me a remote control of volume, source, and the ability to automatically turn on the SET amp using the 12 V trigger to additional switched outlet.
Originally I was going to go with a Freya + preamp. But when I saw a used Stellar GC DAC for sale near where I live, I checked the spec s and decided it may be a better fit. Especially at the price it’s being offered for.
If you purchased the Decware SE84UFO for the sonics side step the Stellar. If you bought the Stellar for convenience side step the Decware and get the PSA S300.
I don’t have a SET amp or preamp yet. But I designed and built my 100 to 102 db watt meter speakers specifically to pair with SET amps. If PS offered a low power class A amp similar to the Schiit Aegir, I might be interested. But not the Stellar 300 for this application.
I started looking at the Stellar GCDAC because a used one has come up for sale near me in good condition at less than half the price new. Originally my plan was to purchase new a Schiit Freya+ and a Gungnir or Ygg.
Upon further investigation the GCDAC I was considering is already 5 years old, and PS has made no updates in this period to the unit. So I am now concerned about reliability and obsolescence. I have expanded my search to consideration of a Direct Stream Jr. There are units for sale below 2K, and only a couple years old. But then there is the obsolescence issue.
About 60% of our listening will be streaming or CDs, the being rest vinyl and reel to reel. For an special evening of just analog sources, I can bypass any preamp. But I need a preamp, DAC, and streamer.
Any suggestions other than the options listed? The DS Senior, at least new is currently too much a stretch to my ability to rationalize. But my mind is not set in stone.
With patience a DSD SR may be had for $2,500 which is worth holding out for. It can act as a digital preamp to a degree and I’d think would be fine with the Decware SET. It won’t help with analog, vinyl, etc. For that I went with a SimAudio 310LP, dead quite and sonically a solid piece.
I concur with your assessment of the Gain Cell, long in tooth. The DSD has had a Firm Ware update recently FWIW.
I’ve been in the unique position of being able to compare and contrast a Stellar Gain Cell DAC and a DSD (Sr.) in the same system.
You’d be surprised how well the former holds up to the latter, and offers analog inputs and a headphone amp as well.
What got me to start considering a DS Junior was the integral streaming, and up grade capability. But as you stated, I need to add a preamp to get the same functionality.
Had the GCD nearby me and just a couple years old, I may have been more inclined to purchase it. But I found a DS Junior for sale at approximately $1500. This changes the math.
Is your Stellar Gain Cell DAC still for sale?
Sold it yesterday, though it’s not yet paid for.
Great, it didn’t last!
I think I must underprice myself–my stuff sells fast. 
The GCDAC I was looking at locally, the seller was asking $900. But with the length of time it had been for sale I figured I could get it down to $800. When I saw that it was five years old, and realized it could soon be obsolete, I changed my direction to look at a DS Junior.
After reading more reviews, and more consideration on additional equipment I would need to purchase, I’m concentrating my search for a DSJ.
Looking at the sources I plan to use, streaming and CDs can use the DSJ volume control. Using the Roon app, I can even control volume on my iPad when streaming.
When listening to vinyl, I can plug my phono preamp directly into the Decware amp, and use its existing Decware volume control. I can’t imagine ever needing to jump back-and-forth between digital and analog sources. When I sit down to play vinyl, I will continue playing vinyl.
So the money I was planning to spend on a dedicated preamp, I can invest in a really good phono preamp.
Thanks for all the responses, and letting me use you all for a sounding board.
I have a junior and a senior and the junior is no slouch. I love mine and use it daily.
Aangen,
Thank you for your input. You are definitely in a position to provide a side by side comparison.
FYI. I contacted PS Audio for additional information on the DSJ. Chris Harden was great help, but he also informed me on the following:
“We have just released the last update for the original DirectStream DAC and the DSJ. It is called Sunlight. We will not be making any additional software or hardware updates.”
Perhaps I am just the last to know. But it appears never having to worry about obsolescence on the DS Junior and Senior by incorporating FPGAs had an expiration date 
“DirectStream. It is the first choice of thousands of critical listeners worldwide, and with its ability to accept our free Operating System upgrades, will never become obsolete.”
I am not certain it needs continuous improvement. Its awfully good at what it does now. The main point is it is available at a price that makes it a bargain. Who knows how long it could take for you to want to step on up to something new? It is out of production, but will continue to be serviced I hope.
I have and have had quite a few PS Audio products in the last 5 years and my favorite is the Junior. Beyond the the sound quality and the way it works, there’s something very likeable about it and I’ll keep it however long its forever lasts! I currently run a Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3 via I2S, simple. It’s good…
