Solid State Power Amp Reviews

PS Audio Stellar M1200 monoblock power amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment

Analog sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn & Castellon turntable & stand; SAT XD1 direct-drive turntable, OMA K3 direct-drive turntable, SAT CF1-09, CF1Ti-09, Schroeder OMA, and Kuzma 4Point tonearms; Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Ortofon MC Century, Anna Diamond, A95, A90, Grado Epoch3, Miyajima Labs Infinity (mono), Grado Epoch (mono), Aidas Audio Gala Gold LE cartridges.
Digital sources: dCS Vivaldi One SACD player DAC; Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter; Roon Nucleus server; Pure Vinyl and Vinyl Studio software.
Preamplification: darTZeel NHB-18S, Ypsilon MC-10L, MC-16L step-up transformers; Ypsilon VPS-100, CH Precision P1 with X1 PSU, Audio Research Reference Phono 3 SE.
Power amplifiers: darTZeel NHB-468 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx
Cables: Interconnect: TARA Labs Zero Evolution, Zero and Air Evolution, Analysis Plus Silver Apex, Stealth Sakra & Indra, Luminous Audio Technology Silver Reference, interconnect. Speaker: AudioQuest Dragon, TARA Labs Omega EvolutionSP. AC: AudioQuest Dragon and Thunder, Dynamic Design Neutron GS Digital power cord.
Accessories: AudioQuest Niagara 7000 power conditioners; CAD GC1 and GC3 Ground Controls; Oyaide AC wall box & receptacles; ASC Tube Traps; RPG BAD, Skyline & Abffusor panels, Stillpoints Aperture II Room panels, Synergistic Research UEF products (various), Symposium Ultra platform; HRS Signature SXR and Stillpoints ESS stands, Stillpoints and Finite Elemente Pagode amplifier stands; Audiodharma Cable Cooker; Furutech record demagnetizer; Furutech destat; Loricraft PRC4 Deluxe, Audiodesk System Pro, and Kirmuss Audio KA-RC-1 record-cleaning machines.—Michael Fremer

COMPANY INFO
PS Audio
4826 Sterling Dr.
Boulder, CO 80301
(720) 406-8946
psaudio.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
ejlif's picture
Submitted by ejlif on December 23, 2020 - 10:42am

I'd take a 911 S all day over the Maybach!

a.wayne's picture
Submitted by a.wayne on December 24, 2020 - 2:50am

Agree completely with MF assessment on the class D sound , Fast , punchy and very musical on recordings which changes direction and pace often, only to be let down by their poor timbre , especially on piano’s were everything sounds like a magical keyboard ..

Flatter to deceive they do very well ..!

Regards

sw23's picture
Submitted by sw23 on December 26, 2020 - 8:20am

Nice review. But it seems like it would be more appropriate to compare this amp to conventional high powered budget offerings from Parasound, Bryston and Musical Fidelity than to a super amp. After all this is probably the choice confronting folks in this price class.

Bromo33333's picture
Submitted by Bromo33333 on March 6, 2022 - 11:23am

Agreed, we should at least know how it stacks up against similarly priced things.

Other reviews seem to notice similar issues that are cleared up by adding a tube damper and making sure the tubes are fully seated in their sockets. And a few hundred hours of burn in to let the vibrating elements find their seating. Some also have noticed that not stacking them helps, too.

Go figure. Sounds like a nice effort.

The reviewer wasn't all that happy, yet they rated it as a "class A" so I don't know what they are trying to say.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on December 27, 2020 - 4:10pm

... really are, especially compared to a pair of the NAD C298 amps, which use the Purifi amp modules and have a rated output in bridged-mono configuration of 1kW @ 8Ω and 1.1kW @ 4Ω - all for $4K/pair.

AnalogueFan's picture
Submitted by AnalogueFan on January 2, 2021 - 10:06pm

mmm with more mmm .. will be enough for my WB Chimera .? I don't think they are enough, after this review.

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