Correct. Basically, if you have good headphones, to use them to their full potential you need an external headphone amplifier. As I guess, this preamplifier is of a very high standard, so it is intended to be aimed at a different market segment. Therefore, the built-in headphone amplifier was omitted.
I am beta testing the SG Preamp, placing it in the chain between a DS Sr. MK1 and a pair of M700 monoblocks. Iāve had it about 2 weeks, so itās getting broken in and the SQ is definitely improved over connecting the DSD directly to the Monoblocks. One thing is that it has eliminated the noise level, giving a very black background. Soundstage is improved, and the instruments sound more realistic. Overall, the entire system just has more presence and musicality.
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Placed my order for the pair of Golds, looking forward to comparing the pre to the BHK pre, I always have regretted selling my DAC Jr, I bought a Modwright modded Pioneer LX500 SACD player at the time I felt it was as good or better, mainly in the way that āI think I like tube outputs betterā, I have come around to I want more detail and tight imaging kind of guy. So we will see,
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Anybody listen to the DAC yet? I am wondering what the best cd transport would be for this new DAC?
Unless you have a collection of SACDās you canāt live without then the Jayās Audio units.
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Happy cake day!!
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Very helpful input Chris! It looks like the Stellar Gold series product line will have a-lot of success. I am just curious to know if Paul has any plans to perhaps develop a Stellar Gold SACD Transport. A product with some of the attributes of the PW SACD Transport, but perhaps a more affordable design where a user can still take advantage of the I2s interface.
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There was some interest in developing this but there isnāt a less expensive transport that supports SACD, since Oppo left the market. You could make a CD player only, based on a PC DVD drive (probably with a proprietary FPGA based hardware solution for MP3, AAC, FLAC etc. file playback for a data discs or thumb drives). There was a sentiment that this isnāt a viable product in the marketplace for what we would need to charge for it.
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Just my opinion, but with the continuous improvement of Hi-Rez audio, and streaming the CD/SACD is a vanishing breed. I was surprised PSA did the PST.
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Will Stellar Gold ever have an amp that is not class D?
While thatās true among American, UK, and other nations, some music consumers still want physical mediums for their music consumption. Thus the continued support for the silver discs.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/compact-disc-cd-market-size-2023-share-latest
https://asianews.network/cds-still-hold-sway-in-streaming-era-in-japan/
I, for one, prefer to own the little silver discs if at all possible. I spin my SACDs and rip my other discs for playing via JRMC (my preferred music software, sonically) and Roon.
That said, I would agree the current trending is not in favor of CDs and SACDs. All is not lost, however. Whatās old is often new again - as illustrated by a resurgence in the popularity of vinyl.
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I recently purchased a Shanling ET3 top load CD transport. It has a I2s output that I used with my I2s input my Beta testing Gold DAC. It cost $729 and sounds great with the Stellar Gold and I highly recommend it.
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i ripped all of my cd,s and dvd,s long ago. many of my older discs will not play anymore due to de lamination. Even ripping in lossless format, i can find better sounding versions in Tidal now.
Iāve been using and perusing CDs for decades and Iāve never even seen a delaminated one. Iām puzzled by your comment.
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This is the first CD (ādouble albumā) I ever purchased. I bought my Technics CD player and this CD set in 1985.
It is literally as good as new.
Believe it or not, as bad as much of the early CDs were, āNew York State of Mindā from this CD set is one of the ādemoā tracks I turn to when I am checking my system after tweaks or the addition of new kit.
Some of the piano work is clear as a bell and good for comparative listening.
FWIW.
So how did you like the Gold Dac?
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It sounds great, but I have not heard other DACās in this price range to compare it to. I would describe the sound as very detailed without harsh highs. Another beta tester on the forum recently compared it to a Denafrips Pontus II (R2R type) and said they sounded very similar. Iām waiting on the 2nd firmware to become available this week. I would like to see the display shifted more to the left to show the entire screen. Also I think the two I2s inputs are too close together. I cannot plug my PS Audio I2s and Audioquest Carbon I2s in at the same time. I still have some issues with the DAC responding to the remote. Iām going to try plugging directly into my solid state amp and use the volume control on the DACās remote. Bypassing my tube preamp might completely change the sound. Currently Iām impressed with the DAC and hope the above problems Iām having can be addressed.
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Thankās for insight Chris, Yes itās true to design a quality product the parts used must be top notch. I am confident that Paul will always do the right thing when bringing a new product to the market place.
I have noted no orders are being taken for the Stellar Gold Series, any thoughts as to their general availability?