Owners Manual

©2017 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
®
Owner’s Reference Stellar Gain Cell DAC
Owner’s Reference
4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Owner’s Reference
PH: 720.406.8946 [e-mail] www.psaudio.com 15-083-01-1
Rev A
3
Location
Digital Inputs
DoP
Connecting the
Stellar Gain Cell
DAC’s Inputs
Connecting the
Output
A good location for the Stellar Gain Cell DAC is in a cabinet or on a shelf at an easily accessible
height.
The IR (infrared) receiver for the remote is located to the left of the Display Screen. A direct line of
sight will help with Stellar Gain Cell DAC’s IR sensor.
The Stellar Gain Cell DAC and the Stellar S300 or M700’s were designed to stack on top of each
other if they are not placed on separate shelves. To do this, carefully place the DAC on top unit so it
rests on the amp. Do not remove the feet.
The Stellar Gain Cell DAC oers multiple digital input choices including: RCA, TOSLINK, USB, and I
2
S.
All inputs, including USB, are capable of accepting high-denition digital audio signals. The TOSLINK
input is capable of 96kHz, 24 bit audio. The COAX inputs are capable of up to 192kHz / 24 bit PCM., The
USB can accept PCM up to 384kHz / 24 bit and up to DSD 128 DoP. The I2S input can accept PCM up to
384kHz / 24 bit and up to DSD 128.
DoP (DSD over PCM) is a standard allowing single rate DSD to travel over USB and I
2
S. Currently, to send
DSD over USB the DSD les must rst be converted to DoP standards to travel this route. It is possible to
send DSD les (without conversion to DoP) over Stellar Gain Cell DAC’s I
2
S inputs. Most programs, such
as Roon and JRiver Media Center, will automatically convert DSD les to the DoP standards on the y.
There are no sonic penalties for conversion to DoP as the raw DSD data is unaected by the process.
There are three methods of connecting the digital inputs of The Stellar Gain Cell DAC: S/PDIF, USB
and I
2
S. S/PDIF is a serial digital interface available as an optical source (TOSlink) or coaxial source
(RCA).
The Stellar Gain Cell DAC also has a built-in Analog Preamp with three single-ended RCA stereo inputs,
one of which shares a connection with a balanced XLR stereo input.
The Stellar Gain Cell DAC is designed to drive a power amplier directly, or as another input on a
preamplier. The Stellar Gain Cell DAC has two types of analog outputs, balanced XLR or single
ended RCA. Be advised that most ampliers and preampliers will produce 6dB higher level with the
balanced outputs relative to the single ended outputs. If you are using both outputs be advised they
will be at dierent levels. Our preference for connection to a power amplier or preamplier is through
the balanced XLR outputs of the Stellar Gain Cell DAC.