Man, that’s tough. Likely worth waiting as it should be quite soon. I don’t want to say a date because I just don’t have even a rough one. Keep in mind, we do have that upgrade program where we’ll help you out with an upgrade if you bought the piece you want to trade-in against the new one within a year.
Your memory is correct. I did have the Aura. But then on a whim I decided to give a current mode phono pre a try for the first time. In principle, that design approach has a number of non-trivial advantages for MC cartridges. The unit I chose to play with is the Sutherland Little Loco. I was a convert within a week. Not only does current mode eliminate load sensitivity, it is also inherently balanced and completely free of noise. I mean zero, nada, zip. The Little Loco also breaks through the stereotype some have of Sutherland, that the house sound is bland. Nope, not this new approach which I note Ron has now rippled down to less expensive models. I can practically hear the gasps as I say I sold the Aura to a very happy owner in LA for the somewhat less expensive MSRP Little Loco. In this case price has nothing to do with aural satisfaction. I am a convert for life to current mode, albeit recognizing it is appropriate for MC only. That’s all I’m listening to nowadays. The Aura is a great unit, but the advantages of current mode are to my ears undeniable. It is literally plug and play, fiddle free.
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Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I hear you well. And thanks for confirming I still have all the marbles 
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I should add Dan was awesome with this trade. Full retail value toward the PH 150. Doesn’t get any better than that. Demand for the 9.0 is so high he had another customer lined up before I even shipped mine back for the swap. Now the PH 150 is sold to yet another happy beneficiary of my bonded for life decision to go current mode only. Zero regrets, btw. Everything written about the PH 150 is true. It is Dan’s best effort and sounds like it. But, I no longer have to mess with finding ultra low-noise tubes either.
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I know someone pretty well who was there when the tube mods were happening. He only has very high praise for Dan and the rest of the crew. Coming from the fellow I know, that’s high praise, he’s got a lot of pride in his craft.
That’s not the question to ask. Realistically, if you look at recent past history (speakers, DSMk2, air lens, 600, tss), it is usually over a year from when Paul first projects actual release (ie if Paul says it’ll be release 3 months from now, you’d be rich taking the over bet on release 15 months from now for most/all of those products mentioned), where alpha was probably up to a year before that. All or most of those that I mentioned were touted to be released probably over a year ago (some several years ago).
It is what it is. Make your own guess as to when it will likely come out. I wouldn’t go by what is forecasted.
This in no way denigrates the products. But the forecasting of release dates is abysmal
Very similar to the software I work on…
Something else to think about that I don’t think anyone else has mentioned is the cost. Seems to me that when the Perfectwave phono was first talked about, the price was estimated to be somewhere around $25,000. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.) That’s quite a bit more than what you would have to pay for the Stellar. The Stellar is not something to be dismissed easily. It’s a really good phono pre. I’ve had mine for several years and I love it.
If my memory serves me well that enormous price was referred to a possible BHK signature phono stage, designed by Bascom.
The new Darren phono pre, even if in a PerfectWave chassis, will be priced at a more reasonable level. I think the final price is still unknown but the aim (and consequently the BOM limiting the design possibilities) is creating a product in a range between Stellar and PerfectWave (3/5K US$?).
Well if it’s really 25k, then they’ll have to find someone else to buy it. I’ve got lots of better things to do with 25k.
I can’t imagine they’d price it that high. No way. It wouldn’t mesh price wise with anything they have. Who would want a target audience of $50k and up turntables, give or take?
Thanks for reminding me. I forgot about the Bascom connection. Maybe Paul or someone else from PSAudio can bring us all up to date on a reliable price estimate.
I really want to spend $25k on a pair of Dragon interconnects. But sadly, no way to do that at this time.
I would also very much like to try a Little Loco! Envious I am.
BTW, I have experience with the Stellar Phono and it is quite an achievement!
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No, it’s not going to be that expensive. Not at all. I am guessing under $10K.
Hi Paul,
Just a friendly ping…any update on the PW phono progress?
-George
No, not really. There are a few other projects ahead of it.
Understood. Priorities shift. I’m enjoying the Stellar phono. And when my DSMK2 arrives I’ll immerse myself in it.
Thank you for all that is PSAudio.
I tried the PS Stellar for a couple of months. Seemed flat to me. Settled on a ModWright.
System synergy is important from my experience. Room, equipment, cables recording etc all play a role.
I’ve had mine for about 10 months now. I can’t tell you exactly when it happened to but it definitely sounds in a higher league now. I am a happy customer for sure.
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