PS Audio Stellar Phono -vs- Manley Labs Chinook

Nothing to add other than I'm delighted folks are appreciating the PS Audio Stellar. They're a great company and Paul is a gent.

Thanks everyone for your input. I decided to pull the trigger on the PS Audio Stellar Phono and just installed it in my office system yesterday. It sounds GREAT right out of the box and I look forward to getting reacquainted with my record collection in the coming months as the unit breaks in. Thanks again!
https://youtu.be/eXlME005pEc

I just finished a trial of a Sutherland 20/20 with LPS and a Stellar Phono.  I bought the Stellar.  It is absolutely terrific and similar to randypeck, I can't stop listening to vinyl with it. With a 30 day free trial, $2,500 retail and up to 30% off on a trade in of a working clunker audio product (net $1,700), there is no risk in a trial and an absolute bargain. 

I purchased the PS Audio Stellar in early March after two years of research and listening at dealers to other phono preamps.  Those included the ARC Reference 6, VdH Grail, VTL and Pass top of the line phono preamps.  I was replacing my beloved tubed Jadis DPMC.  After reading (three times) Micheal Fremer’s very positive review of the Stellar I thought a $2,500 phono preamp and he was comparing it to his two $50+ units maybe I need to give it a listen.  What did I have to lose with a free 30 day in home trial.  
When the Stellar arrived I had everything set up to compare it with the Jadis....which never happened.  Within 10 seconds into the first cut on the first LP it was easy to hear that the Stellar’s performance in every sonic characteristic was better or superior to the Jadis.  I could go on for pages describing the sound that pours through the Stellar but let me just say that I listen to music everyday for 2 to 3 hours and when the Jadis was in the system I listened to LP’s about 75% of the time.  Now I listen to LP’s about 95% of the time.

Mijo, I think you will find that Raul is of one mind, when it comes to solid state vs tubes.  And you won't change him.  I also own his J&R Phonolinepreamp, and it is actually a superb piece, all SS of course. When I say "his", I mean that Raul and a friend, who is an EE or a qualified designer, created and sold the unit, back about 10 or more years ago.  Top quality construction, very thoughtful and cost no object design.

With it being a current amplification phono though it will not be for everyone, not sure as I own any carts that would work exceptionally well on it. Some that would be ok but possibly not great.
However for anybody wanting to try out current amplification method it sure sounds like a bargain.

Uberwaltz, The basic circuit comes in modules. The big unit uses 20 of them to lower the signal to noise ratio requiring a much more elaborate power supply which is battery in both cases. The L20 has the lowest signal to noise ratio of any phonoamp out there by quite a margin and the little guy is better  than most. 
With the Channel D units you also get the option of bypassing the RIAA compensation. Then you can use their program Pure Vinyl for playback and record your albums to files. Michael Fremer uses Pure Vinyl to do this. You can add vinyl songs to your playlists and use the files to compare various remasters and such. Some people say digital RIAA correction is better than analog, less distortion and Phase shift. I have Pure Music which is part of Pure Vinyl. I think it is better for Apple users than JRiver. This program plays back any digital file and upsamples everything to 24/192. It will also do DSD. I have been debating getting one of their units.

40k vs 2k?
Is that even a contest... lol

But at 2.5k for the c2.0 it might be a strong contender.

Great phonoamp Lewm.
Raul, obviously you have never heard an ARC phonoamp. With good tubes they are as quiet as any SS phono amp. I have heard only one SS  sound better the Channel D L20 however I have never heard a Pass or Constellation unit among others. The Channel D Lino C 2.0 has the identical circuitry as the L20, has gotten great reviews and has a very competitive price. I suspect it is far superior to anything in it's price range. If it sounds anything like it's big brother it will be far quieter and better sounding than anything produced by Manley or PS Audio. I would have bought the L20 on the spot if it were not for the price, $40 large. 

Durmmer808

I owned the Chinook and enjoyed it for the season I had it. Using a Soundsmith MIMIC Star cartridge with the Manley had me smiling every time I listened to Rock, R&B, The Dead and Jazz! However, when it came time to listen to Classical at low volume I felt like all I could hear was the background floor noise tube presence. That drove me bonkers. With that being said...at the time my whole system was an all tube set-up from my pre-amp to my mono's. Question is: Do you mind the tube presence at low or high volumes? Also, what are you going to be listening to on the Manley. Everything you have read abut the Chinook is true....Silky smooth highs and all the air on top you can handle and tight bottom end.

As for the Stellar, it's built like a tank just like the Chinook. It retrieve the ALL the information from your vinyl like the Chinook. Both are packed with internal electrical hardware. In other words you are getting what you paid for. The BIG difference (TO ME) is Modern vs NOS. 

The Stellar is 6ft under dead quiet. You have on the fly remote control.

The choice is up to you. You will not loose either way.

Tube Bliss vs Solid State (wishing for some tube hiss)...lol! 

Simao
I believe the LFD should likely be a good step up from the PH10, that is one that has been on my shortlist to try along with Sutherland.

Which model of LFD if I may ask?

Interesting. I went from the Goldnote PH10 to an LFD and felt the improvement was incredible.

+uberwaltz
I have to agree here with Uberwaltz on the Chinook I went from the chinook to the Gold Note PH10 and feel its an over all better sounding phono pre for MC anyway. I've also heard it side by side with Allnic's H-1201 and it didn't lose much ground there surprisingly (I'd say that was more of a tube vs SS choice). Its better then the AudioNote Kit2 as well (had all three one evening for review). there's a review here if you search. 
I've not heard anything from PS audio other then their power stuff. so can not comment there.   

I own and enjoy a Steelhead.  If you want to know about a relatively cheap but effective upgrade for the Chinook, one that really improved the SQ of my Steelhead, contact me privately.

Agree totally with Cakid on the Chinook MC section although from what I hear the Chinook SE is better in this respect.
I also used a SUT while playing lomc through the Chinook on its MM settings as it just sounded better.
However for me the Gold Note PH-10 sounds much better in my system.
YMMV

Let your ears decide.
My best buddy hates ComCrap and I hate AT&T.
There's that.
You can get a Puffin (cheap return shipping) and a Stellar (free return) and compare them in your space with your equip. for 30 days. You might be surprised.
Might not.
At least you'll be happy.

Correct. The Stingray has no phono section. The Chinook is a complete phono preamp with MC and MM sections. I only use the MM section. With low output cartridges, I think the sound quality is better using an outboard step-up transformer feeding the high output (MM) section of the Chinook.

@lewm 

Stingray has a built-in phono section?

I think he's saying he uses the Chinook with the Stingray.  I don't think he was implying in any way the Stingray has a phono section, only that he prefers the MM section on the Chinook over its MC section.

Dear @drummer808 : The choice is easy because tubes are not for cartridges, especially LOMC ones.

In the other side PS looks really fine and comes with a in-home trial promotion so you can lost almost anything with.

https://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-phono-preamplifier/#tab-description

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Stingray has a built-in phono section?  I thought it was essentially a linestage with a lot of high level inputs, in case your phono stage does not provide same.

Have a Manley Chinook and Manley Stingray integrated. The Chinook MM section is excellent. (The Stingray is beyond reproach.) The Chinook MC section is not quite as steller. With MC cartridges I use a stepup to boost the SQ.
My EAR 825 is ever so slightly better in the MC mode. The EAR uses an internal stepup. So maybe my systems just sound better with stepups for MC cartridges.
Haven’t heard the PS Audio Stellar, but have had other PS Audio amps and dacs and never liked any of them.

I owned a Chinook for about a year and honestly never truly warmed to it ever.
I sold it and returned to the phono I had before it.
GoldNote ph10. Quite possibly the most flexible phono I have ever owned. And did I say ......quiet..... like inky black quiet even using lomc carts and ear up against speaker with no music playing type of quiet.

Heard stellar opinions on the Stellar but no first had experience.

The Chinook may possibly be heard as more "organic" since it's tubed.

For your ears to decide. No bad choice. The Stelllar will be quieter at the highest volume levels.