I am looking for an office dac. I currently have an airlens and directstream mk2 in my main system. I have already ordered another airlens and would like to know if I am better off getting a used MK1 or the stellar gold. Thanks in advance.
Nobody
Can you please elaborate?
What’s to elaborate? I just want to know which dac is better, the MK1 or Stellar Gold Dac?
Did you get an answer?
No, not yet.
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The used MK1 is certainly cheaper.
Price isn’t the issue
Larry Wong
What would make one “better” than the other for you?
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Try a/b comparison.
Something’s are just flat out better than others. I know if it was me I’d like to narrow things down as much as possible before going through the hassles of ordering, then returning, or traveling, in order to narrow the selections down.
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Jay claims it’s the best sounding PS Audio DAC. Interesting.
He does mention however he hasn’t heard the newest DSD MkkII DAC.
Also interesting, he prefers the internal preamp in the Stellar Gold dac better than the BHK preamp.
Anyone have a comment on his description of the PS Audio “house sound”?
I would go for the Gold. The MK1 is kind of dated unless you do all the mods to it. The USB input is mediore, so you have to work around it with DDC’s to use the I2S. If you would not get another MK2, then go for the Gold.
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I don’t agree with Jay’s description of PS Audio’s house sound. I hear plenty of separation, definition, and leading edge, using a full PS Audio stack of gear. Perhaps with Jay’s other components he needs audio products with a more upfront in your face presentation.
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It seems that Jay was listening more critically through his Focal headphones
and made his determination with these…although he has heard Gold Stellar dac
through a full range system.
Audioholic is correct the PS Audio dacs have tremendous separation.
My Focal Aria 948s driven by my Parasound JC5, Oppo 205 feeding PS Audio DS MkI
into my Wyred4Soud Stage 2 preamp…produces an immense well layered out, detailed
highly resolving dynamic soundstage…
Forgot to say all fed by P15, fed by an antique PS Audio Soloist…
Paul you just gotta bring back the Soloist and a Quintessence to compete
with the “big Guys”
Difficult to duplicate with head cans.
Best wishes
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Frankly, I don’t know what Jay is talking about. My MK2 and Airlens do everything right thru my Kef Blades driven by Electrocompaniet AW400. Very detailed with distinct separation, etc. Could not be happier with that set up.
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Regarding Jay’s YouTube videos, I get the notion you are not the issue. Just a thought…
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I can maybe answer this one!
So I’ll give you a bit of my personal opinion on the DSD mk1 and the StellarGold DAC.
I really like both of them, but I personally replaced my DSD MK1 with a StellarGold. The main reason is, the DSD mk1 is about 10 year old technology now and since then we have had MAJOR improvements to sound quality. I mainly listen to headphones on my home system and it was a night and day difference between the Stellargold and the DSD.
I will say, on my FR10’s the soundstage is a bit wider with the DSD, but that was about the only positive between the two!
Again, Personal opinion, but I LOVE my Stellar Gold.
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