PS Audio Stellar Phono

Go ahead and satisfy your curiousity. Only you can know what works for you. Free trial why not?

I know I didn't like it. Sounded sterile but as @fuzztone says try it yourself only you can decide.

Same as @rsf507 

I tried it, too analytical for my taste not allowing me to enjoy music, so I returned it.

@rsf507 @jcoehler can you guys be a little more specific on what you did or didn't like about it? Also what are you running for a phonostage now? I've been dreaming of ARC, but will have to buy an older generation used. 

'Any insight into either the in home trial is even worth it at this close of a price point?"
If anything, your existing phono stage and the Stellar may have more things similar than different.

"I've been dreaming of ARC, but will have to buy an older generation used."
There are tube units in all price points. Demo something. That's the only way to determine if a tube unit is for you. No online  opinion about SQ will replace your actual experience. 

My experience was it just wasn't engaging. It's very well built and is very detailed. But for me, if I'm focusing on hearing every instrument I forget about the music. Again, this is my experience and opinion. I run a Herron VTPH-2A which checks all the boxes for me and is super engaging with my system.

I got the stellar phono... Definitely an amazing piece. If you are serious about trying it... Do take them up on the trial... They make it easy... Also do look at their trade in program... Very generous and process was as smooth as silk. 

I tried some of the earlier Nova/Musical Surroundings offerings and... TO THESE EARS.... Not even close. 

Re. More specifics... Of course, we all have different ears, brains, and systems... But here goes... 

I find the Stellar Phono to be a very engaging full sounding phono with a wonderful huge Soundstage.  I like records to sound like records, not cds. My previous favorite was the vincent 700/701...beat out much more expensive ones in my system. 

One feature I was surprised I like so much is the remote switchable gain... amazing how much records vary... Though I don't use it often, it's there if I need it. 

Using Hana sl cart... And low and mid Mc gain work great with my Tube Pre. 

If it only had a mono button

I own one, it’s phenomenal. Expressive, detailed, flexible.

I have two minor complaints with it: one is that it requires the remote to change settings. Granted this isn’t something one needs to do often, mildly annoying though.

Two is that it can be sensitive to RF noise. This was noted in one of its reviews as well. Moving the cables around a bit solved the problem for me. My friend has one and lives very close to an AM radio tower so he had to do a little bit more but was able to solve it as well.

Beyond that, it’s an insane value from the money and has really stepped up my analog game.

I had one and was great until it started smoking. Boxed it up sent it back. Bought a Lejonklou and never looked back.

For about the same price check out the Gold Note PS-10 with its matching PSU-10 power supply. By far the best sounding phono preamp I have had over many years. Just another option for you to explore.

I tried the phono stage and thought it was a great product. My review is here:https://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/148322-ps-audio-stellar-phono-preamplifier/
So good I bought it.

@ml8764ag I'd be curious how much the older Musical Surroundings stuff has changed to the III that I have. I'm probably going to dive in and give it a shot. I'm hesitant to take it home for fear I'd keep it. I'd love a Herron but I've heard Keith may be bowing away. 

@smholl ok goldnote research is now on my list to explore. I continue to hear about it so I'll be doing some digging. Possible side by side with my amateur ears and listening skills. 

J-wall...yeah...heard good things about the Herron phonos... haven't tried them...

Re. Fear of keeping....yes been there too but that went away for me pretty quickly because of the sound.

Note:. As one of the other posters mentioned...and others before...the sensitivity to interference is real...I had to be cognizant of my placement and cable routing...but once that was addressed...dead silent.

Shielding is a real issue huh? My cables are a rats nest so I guess I'll have to plan accordingly. I'll most likely pull the trigger. I read a post yesterday about the PH10 being blown out of the water by the Stellar.

The Herron phono stages are sold out. Perhaps used if you can find one right now.

A friend loaned me his Stellar. I connected it to my system, powered it up and did something else for a few hours while it warmed up. I returned, put the stylus in the groove and settled in. A few seconds later, an enormous pop in both channels and low amplitude, very distorted sound. Glad no drivers were blown.

On a positive note, PS immediately sent a pre-paid mailer and turned the unit remarkably fast (the whole cycle was less than two weeks). My friend has not had a problem since.

So I've yet to hear a Stellar.

@vinylvalet that's what I meant about Keith Herron bowing out. 

It seems like the Stellar has had some issues in terms of reliability and units blowing up. Are these early adopters or as of recently? PS audio is currently 10 days on backorder so I'd be curious if this is just parts or if they've changed some parts and have issue sourcing with all the other manufacturers. 

Keith Herron will continue to produce the 360 line stage and M2 amps but yes, he's nearing full retirement.

I replaced an Avid Pellar with one, very satisfied, detailed , quiet. excellent build quality. opinions vary , if you have a bright system with silver cables you might find it bright, I'm running  PS audio BHK, With Cardas golden ref cabling. just about right for me.

I just ordered one of these to try out. I'm currently using a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 that has been okay, but am looking forward to the comparison.

@firenze please keep us in the loop. I haven't decided if I'm going modwright or ps audio!

My system is not too impressive right now, but I'm slowly growing.

• Audio Technica AT-LP-DCVTA-EB (Drop collab) turntable
  
• Sumiko Songbird cartridge
• Jadis Orchestra Black Amplifier
• JBL 590 & Focal Chorus 706 (I go back and forth)

The folks at PS Audio said it is made-to-order so I should expect to get it within 1-2 weeks from now.

I have one of the very first Stellar Phono Preamps ever shipped.  It may be the most significant improvements I have ever made to my system.  Very neutral sounding, great detail retrieval and localization, and a perfect match for my VPI Prime Signature w/ Ortofon Cadenza Bronze.  

Hi guys

A friend of mine bought a Stellar phono stage to try and he also had a Pass Labs XP-17 he got from Reno hifi. He had them both in the same system at the same time. Turntable is an VPI HW19 with an Eminent Technology ET2 airbearing tonearm with an Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum cartridge. I asked him which one he like better, the Stellar or the XP-17 and he said the Stellar was better and not by a small margin. The Stellar was only about one week old when I asked him that question. 

After he he had the Stellar for about two months, I asked him that same question. He told me that it’s much better now. He said that it needs about 100 hours of break in. He said it’s like a different preamp and it sounds amazing. 

Scot

I've had the Stellar for about a week now and have been doing a lot of listening. My DAC has never felt so lonely as I've been mostly playing records to really get a handle on the Stellar!

Initial impression is good. The sound is very different compared to the Tube Box S2, more than I anticipated initially. The Stellar is less harsh on the high notes. Also much fuller in the mid-range. Vocals and mid-to-low strings like Cellos have really shone through in a way I was not expecting.

I've been trying to A/B as best I can (it's though since I'm literally switching cables), and will be doing a longer writeup/"review" once I've had some more time to compare.

One thing I'm trying to troubleshoot is a bit of "hum" in the 60Hz range. It seems to disappear (mostly) if I disconnect the ground wire from the TT. I'm not super experienced in this department but it seems PS Audio is, so I plan on giving them a call this week to see if they can walk me through any steps.

I received my Stellar Phono Preamplifier last Friday and hooked it up over the weekend.  The other components of consequence in my systems are a SOTA Sapphire turntable, a Premier FT-3 arm, a Hana SL low output cartridge, MIT phono cable, and Wireworld Eclipse interconnect cable (to my Theta Casablanca IV preamp/processor).

Early Sunday evening, I invited my wife to listen.  To make it more interesting, I chose a selection of music that was also available for streaming from Tidal HD to my Roon Nucleus+ and Lumin T2 streamer/DAC, with the Lumin connected to my Casablanca IV via Kimber Kable Silver Streak cables.

After about 45 minutes of A/B comparisons, my wife turned to me and said we needed to get a better music streamer/DAC.  I had to agree.  My digital setup is really quite good, but the addition of the PS Audio Stellar phono preamp to my vinyl playback sub-system was even better.

Bottom line: recommended, but with two caveats.  First, to take advantage of the preamp's capabilities, it is likely wise to have a good turntable, cartridge, and phono cable and interconnect cable.  Second, while this phono preamp is quite good (and one can even say a bargain at its price), it is not cheap nor are the other components needed.

Thanks to both @firenze and @jmeyers for the responses. I've decide to go all tube and jump to the Chinook original. Fan-f'n-tastic upgrade over my Nova III. Like night and a day improvement. I definitely gained a ton at twice the price. Still considering taking a stellar home to A/B, but my god is the Chinook silent and fantastically dynamic. Bass if off the charts. 

@j-wall congrats! I've not seen the Chinook before, but it looks like a great option if you're feeling tubes. Certainly more so than my old Tube Box S2!

I'd be curious if you do an A/B with the Stellar. I was on the fence about ordering it, but since PS Audio's trial/return policy is so generous (in the US) I figured it was worth it.

I do disagree with @jmeyers on one point: My setup has a more modest turntable setup with basic blue jeans cables and even I could notice quite a difference. I think the Stellar could make any system sound better, not just with top-shelf components. That said, the additional upgrades certainly would help even more.

Anyone considering auditioning the PS Stellar Phono preamp should consider its very long break in time. IMO and actual experience 200 hours at least. That’s a lot of time to accumulate in 30 days. PS may give you more time if you ask for it. I almost returned it at 150 hrs use. At about 175 hrs it really woke up and sounded like something and I kept it. It is detailed and realistically warm and very transparent if you load your cartridge correctly. If you choose one of their preset loads it may or may not shake hands with your cartridge optimally and may disappoint. In order to get a perfect load the custom setting is a must. It is difficult to set because the resistors for each channel were not perfectly matched in my unit. I used an ohm meter to get a perfect match and it was worth the effort. Of course if you are using an SUT with the PS it isn’t an issue.

I’ve had the Stellar for 2 years and had an interesting experience recently. My long time dealer found a SME 20 for me. He matched the table to a SME V arm and a ClearAudio Jubilee cart. Since my electronics are an ARC 160s and a ref6se he brought a ARC phono ref3. I was comfortable with the price, but when we compared the Ps Audio Stellar and the ARC there wasn’t a comparison. The resolution and pace of the Stellar was superior. The soundstage of the ARC was a bit better. 
I’m looking forward to comparing the ARC phono ref3se some day, but for now I’m very satisfied. 

@revdeg now that's a screaming recommendation if I've ever heard one. Also, I'm sure the SE is superior, but that much Superior? To knock a $3k phono off its throne? Now I'm really interested. I'm going on a limb and looking at an Allnic 1205 now...

I just bought a 2nd hand PS Audio Stellar Phono and was blown away. Compared to my MoFi StudioPhono (which is the best under $1k Phono Preamp around), the Stellar blew it away by a country mile. Understand though there are price points that each designer (Darren Myers/PS Audio & Tim De Paravicini/MoFi) had to work within. The StudioPhono is no slouch.

The Stellar by comparison is thicker sounding (which I prefer) and rivals my PS Audio DirectStream DAC Sr. for affection now  I'm still a Digital Man but this Stellar Analog Kid is making me enjoy Vinyl again. PS Audio has a winner on its hands.

I just got back into Vinyl and am treading the Waters very carefully.