CHEAPER than the traditional models, yes, but as good as or better than anything else out there – PS Audio has a new range of products that promises to deliver top performance at modest prices.
According to the company, the team of founder and CEO Paul McGowan, chief engineer Bob Stadtherr and development engineer Darren Myers “pooled what they’d learned from developing the cutting-edge BHK Signature and DirectStream products, updated Gain Cell and Analog Cell technologies, added the latest-gen Class-D technology, and voiced them to meet stringent PS Audio standards.”
“Even the most critical listeners will be shocked by just how good these products sound,” says McGowan.
“We listened to them for hours on our reference Infinity IRS system, and even though I have access to our state of the art products, I can be happy with the Stellar components. They really ARE Stellar.”
The Stellar Gain Cell DAC combines an updated version of analogue Gain Cell technology with a full-featured DAC that can play the DSD output from PS Audio’s new DirectStream Memory Player; it will retail at US$1,699.
The S300 stereo amplifier combines a Class-A Analog Cell input stage with a high-power Class-D output stage, promising warmth and slam, and delivering 300 watts per channel into four ohms. Price – US$1,499.
The M700 Mono Amplifier combines the Class-A Analog Cell with an even more powerful Class-D output stage – 700 watts (into four ohms) – and is touted to be able to “drive any speaker made.” This one is US$1,499 per unit and US$2,998 per pair.
According to the company, the Gain Cell DAC and S300 are currently undergoing beta testing, and will ship in March. The M700 is expected out in April, and more products will be added to the Stellar line along the way.
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