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PS Audio StellarGold Preamplifier
Preamplifiers act as the backbone of premium audio setups, overseeing input choices, initiating the amplification process, managing volume and balance, and ensuring electrical separation between sound sources and amplifiers. When you add the StellarGold Preamplifier into your audio chain—bridging devices like DACs, phono preamps, tuners, or other auxiliaries with your amplifier—a magical sonic revelation unfolds: more realism, life, and space around each performer. It's time to take control of your system and add that missing element, a great preamplifier. StellarGold.
Upgrade your system performance
The StellarGold Preamplifier is the backbone of premium audio setups, overseeing input choices, initiating the amplification process, managing volume and balance, and ensuring electrical separation between sound sources and amplifiers. This extraordinary product adds a new level of realism, life, dynamics and punch to your high-end audio system. StellarGold Preamplifier should be the heart of any great system. Come learn more about this extraordinary preamplifier.
Design
The StellarGold Preamplifier features two hand crafted discrete audio amplification stages, both enjoying extremely high slew rate, high bandwidth, low distortion signal handling capabilities that honor the music. Based on a combination of JFET and BJT devices along with hand-selected purist components, the musical signal is delivered without the interference of capacitors in the signal path. Each amplification stage is based on a minimal global feedback design that achieves its low distortion status through careful balancing and high current design choices. Lastly, its high current class A output stage is more than capable of driving long cable lengths without compromise so that your power amplifier enjoy all the benefits StellarGold Preamplifier has to offer.
Application
Preamplifiers are the heart of any standalone audio system, controlling musical sources like DACs, phono preamps, and tuners. Bridging these sources to your power amplifier without adding any kind of sonic thumbprint is a challenge the StellarGold preamplifier takes on without any hesitation. Life, energy, and a sweet analog presentation are at the heart of this remarkable piece of equipment's performance. The StellarGold Preamplifier features 4 identical balanced and single ended inputs, and converts all input signals into a balanced signal for the lowest possible distortion, and can be used in a two-channel audio system or as part of a home theater system.
Technology
The StellarGold Preamplifier is a remarkably musical instrument. It is an excellent uncompromised interface between your sources and power amplifier. Designed by Darren Myers, the StellarGold outperforms preamplifiers at anywhere near its price. Preamplifiers play a critical role in any separates audio system, strategically positioned between sources of music: CD players, phono preamps, DACs, tape recorders and tuners – and your power amplifier – the preamp serves essential roles of control and isolation. Control is simple in concept, but extraordinarily difficult to design in an acoustically transparent manner. Control duties such as input switching, volume, balance, and amplification can place unwanted acoustic thumbprints on the music if not designed with extraordinary care. The StellarGold is one amazing preamplifier that we can't wait for you to hear in your system.
At the heart of any preamplifier are the gain stage that provides the amplification, and the volume control that manages how loud or soft the music plays. Inside the StellarGold preamplifier is an all new high slew rate, low feedback, discrete JFET BJT hybrid that has remarkably low distortion without relying upon high levels of sound-squashing global feedback. Volume is controlled by a fully balanced precision electronic version of a stepped attenuator. A large, oversized high-current transformer feeds the StellarGold Preamp's power supply, which ensures that the unit can reproduce music with a wide dynamic range, without compression or distortion. Fully-balanced circuitry with a bandwidth that extends almost to DC on the low end and well above audibility on the high end are responsible for the effortless presentation of music StellarGold preamplifier owners will enjoy. Openness, transparency, increased space around instruments---voices come alive in ways most never thought possible.
The designer's goal was to build a high slew rate, high bandwidth, open-sounding amplification stage that imparts no sonic signature and produces natural, open, music with affectation. All inputs are balanced as soon as they enter the StellarGold Preamplifier. Input switching is accomplished through hand-selected double-pole double-throw, gold plated relays that we’ve chosen for their sonic neutrality. High-performance pure-analog audio products like the StellarGold Preamplifier benefit from the use of high grade Audiophile capacitors and the finest discrete parts. Hand crafted to measure and sound remarkable, this StellarGold preamplifier will bring an amazing level of performance to any level of purist audio system ever made. If you're interested in making audio magic, audition for yourself the remarkable StellarGold Preamplifier.
Features
Class A pure analog amplification
JFET and BJT discrete architecture
Fully balanced from input to output
Purist audio components throughout
Low global feedback
4x RCA single ended inputs
4 XLR balanced inputs
2 XLR balanced outputs per channel
2 RCA single ended outputs per channel
High slew rate amplification stage
Near perfect transient response
Extreme frequency limits from near DC to 200kHz
Darren Myers design
Oversized power supply
Multiple stage regulation
Volume and balance by precision stepped attenuation
2x output triggers
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PS Audio StellarGold Preamplifier
PS Audio's StellarGold Preamplifier pairs an indestructible chassis with a quiet, revealing presentation, making it an immediate system upgrade. Jerry Del Colliano of Future Audiophile praised its gorgeous metalwork and oversized power supply that underpin a low-noise, transparent sound. Sonically it delivers forward, weighty bass, lively dynamics and cymbal zip, plus an expansive soundstage and precise imaging that reveal microdetail without imparting coloration. Internally it uses fully balanced discrete amplification and offers four XLR and four RCA inputs and matching outputs, so it integrates cleanly into high-end rigs. Ideal for listeners who prioritize tonal accuracy, reliability, and upgradeability over feature-packed all‑in‑one units, the StellarGold is a high-performance preamp that punches above its price class.
Pros
- Stout, high-quality build and heavy power supply for long-term reliability and a low-noise foundation.
- Very transparent, revealing presentation with excellent detail retrieval and minimal coloration.
- Expansive soundstage and precise imaging that uncover microdetail and create strong spatial cues.
- Fully balanced discrete amplification with four XLR and four RCA inputs for flexible high‑end integration.
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Cons
- Relatively minimalist feature set—no integrated DAC, phono stage, room correction, or large OLED display compared with some rivals.
- Limited distribution (factory-direct model) can reduce retailer exposure and may affect accessibility or resale paths for some buyers.
Transparency
91/100
Reviewers emphasize that the Stellar Gold is designed to "let you hear your music — not color it" and that it "sounds a little bit more transparent." The heavy, oversized power supply and fully balanced discrete sections imply a low noise floor and minimal added coloration; no hiss/hum or coloration complaints are mentioned.
Sound Quality
90/100
Dynamics
89/100
The preamp is described as bringing the listener "a little closer to the music," with greater body to bass and more audible brush detail on snare — all signs of preserved micro- and macro-dynamics. No comments suggest compression or lifelessness; dynamics are lively and involving.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
The reviewer reports the "soundstage was as wide as I have ever heard" in their room and praises imaging and space around instruments. Comments about heightened detail and imaging support an excellent spatial performance.
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Build Quality
93/100
Described as "stout," with "gorgeous metal work" and a chassis "built like a tank," plus a heavy, oversized power supply and discrete amplification sections. The construction and power supply design point to high craftsmanship and durable, well-engineered internals.
Features Connectivity
87/100
Fully balanced operation with two discrete amplification sections, four XLR inputs and four RCA inputs, and matching outputs are explicitly called out. This goes beyond the minimal active preamp baseline (80) with balanced I/O and a full balanced signal path, though no phono stage, DAC, headphone, or HT-bypass are mentioned.
Value for Money
90/100
The reviewer explicitly frames the Stellar Gold as strong value: "perform at very high levels for your $4,000" and "give you a lot of the performance that you might expect from a $10,000 preamp." Language like "meaningful but also reasonable price" and "kicks a little ass" supports a justified-premium rating.
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