# Stellar Gold DAC as Preamp **URL:** \ **Category:** Audio Components\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193 "2024-07-21T17:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![allan.thunes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@allan.thunes](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/allan.thunes)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/1 "2024-07-21T17:40:32Z")
I’ve been contemplating how to allocate what remains of my limited budget and am wondering how the SGD performs as a stand alone DAC and preamp. I don’t have and won’t have any analog sources for the foreseeable future so would like to know what I’d be giving up if I didn’t have a dedicated preamp between the DAC and power amp. Thanks much. ---
**Author:** ![Audioholic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@Audioholic](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Audioholic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/2 "2024-07-21T21:55:51Z")
[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/d/e/de3a5bf001c67517700ce519a1fc3f551b571867.jpeg "WOW! PS Audio Stellar Gold "PARALLEL" DAC is an R2R DAC KILLER!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRqx3MjZMTE&t=1s) In this review Jay thought the preamp in the Stellar Gold sounded better than the BHK preamp. ---
**Author:** ![Julio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Julio](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Julio)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/3 "2024-07-22T19:41:49Z")
One thing I know regardless of Jay’s review that I had the SGCD and decided to get the SGD. Well… poop! I opened my wallet even wider and got the preamp as well. When I heard the SGD, I was perplexed! Everything Jay says is 100 percent true. So I found myself thinking: OMG… I now have to get the preamp as well. Danm! The Gold stack sound amazing! And they are prettier with that 24 karats strip. 🙂 One thing: I also got the Eversolo DMP 8A but I returned it due to incompatibilities in I2S HDMI pinout. Airlense is a little expensive compares to the Eversolo which has a lot more options. I’m now building an HDMI cable with pins 1-3 and 7-9 swapped to match with the Gold DAC. Once I finish I will order again. PS Audio should include their pinout in the manual. ---
**Author:** ![allan.thunes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@allan.thunes](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/allan.thunes)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/4 "2024-07-22T21:56:19Z")
Thanks much guys. Audioholic I appreciate you posting Jay’s review. I’ve come across some of his stuff before but haven’t watched. Julio thank you for confirming Jay’s opinions. Unfortunately I can’t swing both the DAC and preamp so I’d have to be content with just the DAC for the foreseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![Audioholic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@Audioholic](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Audioholic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/5 "2024-07-22T22:48:53Z")
Sounds like the preamp in the Stellar Gold DAC is pretty decent, at least according to Jay. ---
**Author:** ![Julio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Julio](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Julio)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/6 "2024-07-26T18:26:17Z")
I failed to mention that out of the two (DAC and preamp) the one who makes the biggest difference is the DAC. At least in my system. So you are on the right track. ---
**Author:** ![allan.thunes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@allan.thunes](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/allan.thunes)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/7 "2024-07-26T21:24:01Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Bubbaganooosh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f08c70/32.png) [@Bubbaganooosh](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Bubbaganooosh)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-gold-dac-as-preamp/38193/8 "2024-10-10T19:14:30Z")
Anyone have any experience pairing the Gold Pre with DSD Mk1? Would love some insights, Thx, 1st time poster but long time lurker.