S300 Amplifier
S300 Amplifier
From the deepest bass to the warmest, sweetest highs, the Stellar S300 makes any loudspeaker sing and is our most affordable stereo power amplifier ever.
Breathe new life into your loudspeakers with the Stellar S300, a full-sized, affordable stereo power amplifier that honors the music and controls your loudspeakers better than you ever imagined possible. The S300 combines the slam, linearity, and toe-tapping pacing of a Class D output stage with the warmth, grace, and rich inner detail of Stellar's Class A Analog Cell. The results are nothing short of ground breaking. Liberate a wealth of untapped energy trapped in your media library. Plumb music’s subterranean depths and finally hear the bass your speakers were capable of. Revel in rich layers of fine, full detail. Marvel at the deep, extraordinary, wall-to-wall soundstage. Effortless. Lush. Stellar.
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Specifications - S300 Amplifier
Stellar S300 Stereo Amplifier |
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| Unit Weight | 13 lbs [5.9 kg] |
| Unit Dimensions | 17”W x 3”H x 12”D (13"D w/connectors) |
| Shipping Weight | 16.5 lbs [7.5 kg] |
| Shipping Dimensions | 22”W x 8”H x 17”D |
| Color Options | Black Silver |
| Voltage Options (Factory set only) |
Japan 100V North America 120V Europe/Asia/Australia/New Zealand 230V |
| Mains Power Inputs | IEC C14 |
| Idle Power Consumption | 13W |
| Accessories Included | US (NEMA 5-15P) (all versions) Schuko (CEE7/7) (230V version) UK (BS 1363) (230V version) |
| Audio Inputs | RCA (Unbalanced) XLR (Balanced) |
| Speaker Outputs | Copper base nickel plated binding posts (2 pair per channel) |
| DC Trigger Input | 3.5mm 5-15VDC |
| Warranty | 3 years parts and labor |
Signal |
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| Gain | 30.5dB +/-0.5dB |
| Sensitivity for rated output power | 1.01V |
| Noise | 1kHz@300 Watts < -100dB |
| Input impedance | Unbalanced 50KΩ Balanced 100KΩ |
| Output Impedance | 50Hz, 2.8VRMS <0.007Ω |
| Damping factor | 50Hz. 2.8VRMS 8Ω >1100 4Ω >550 |
| Frequency Response | 2.8VRMS into 4Ω 10Hz – 20KHz +/- 0.5dB 10Hz – 50KHz +0.1/-3.0dB |
THD&IM |
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| 1KHz, 1W/4Ω | <0.02% |
| 10-20KHz, 1W/4Ω | <0.02% |
| 10-50KHz, 1W/4Ω | < 0.05% (90kHz BW) |
| 1KHz, 37.5W/4Ω | < 0.01% |
Output Power |
Both channels driven 120vac mains, 1kHz, 1% THD |
| 8Ω | 140W minimum |
| 4Ω | 300W minimum |
| 2Ω | Stable for musical transients |
Reviews
This is going to be fun!
The sound is already coming alive… in fact, it's faaaantastic! I'm currently listening to Robert Cray,
Strong Persuader (high rez FLAC file). The detail and punch are just what they should be. His voice is clear
and centered, surrounded by nicely balanced treble and bass. Another wonderfully engineered recording and
the Stellar GCD shows it off in fine fashion. The clarity has improved and the veil has lifted. Wow, this is
going to be fun!
- Gene
Finding renewed enjoyment
I find myself digging further back in my CD collection and finding renewed enjoyment in old favorites. Many
are digitally mastered (or 20 bit remastered) from the time when that was a new thing. Many selections from
Sheffield Labs, DMP, ECM, Telarc and GRP make for good critical listening. My previous impressions (vs my
previous preamp and DAC) are reinforced: excellent bass extension, deeper front to back soundstage, more
precise placement and crisp percussion.
- Calord
Fun stuff!
Right out of the box, the S-300 presented a sound stage larger than previously experienced with the older
Rotel amplifier. Control was tighter, base was tighter, and the overall experience tighter. After about 3
hours, I adjusted speaker placement to take better advantage of the expanded sound stage. Fun stuff!
One thing surprising, the experience was not strained at all, the sound is very relaxed, not overly bright.
After approximately 6 hours, the unit is settling in nicely, both vinyl and digital sources are benefiting
from the Stellar. I have other systems to reference back to (not just getting used to the new sound), and am
looking forward to reporting back as to how the burn in continues and settles in.
- Rocket
Goodness!
Goodness! Despite the slightly lower power of the Stellars, I was able to get 90+dB levels in the (largeish)
room. And, for the first time sans subwoofers, there was solid chest-impacting bass.
Next up was Blue Nile's A Walk Across the Rooftops; Heatwave is a perennial favourite. Again, from the
Olive, transferred to digital through the NuWave Phono Converter. Ooh - goodness, even on casual listening
there was a bit more going on than I remembered.
Now I have to drive away and do some errands, so the machinery is left playing Best of the Shadows - you
know, there's a bit more going on in there than I'd noticed before, too. And, begum, there's actual bass.
Bottom line - straight out of the box, these Stellars make my system sound better.
- Pete Wilson
Love the amp
Love the amp and I'm gonna buy it. I found the sound open and detailed with LP vinyl and CDs . Detailed
soundstage and very musical in my opinion. I'm a construction worker so my computer skills are kind of
limited. My associated equipment is Primaluna prologue 3 tube preamp project Debut carbon turntable and
phono stage. Otrofon 2m red cart, Emotiva Erc 1 CD player, Klipsch RF 42 tower speakers, and energy sub in a
2.1 stereo system and PS Audio power cables and Audioquest interconnects. Pretty basic system by High end
standards but wow did Freddie Hubbard and Pink Floyd sound great. Eva Cassidy's vocals were so rich and real
and Dire straights Ride Across the River blew me away.
- Daniel Dennis
Simply amazed!
About 8 years ago I bought the Mark Levinson No. 434 monoblocks. They went for $8000 the pair, and they
looked and sounded as good as I'd come to expect for that kind of money. I was happy! They are still very
good amps by today's standards. When I think about how much performance PS Audio has managed to put into a
stereo amp that costs less than 20% of what the Mark Levinson's cost, however, I'm simply amazed. The S300
doesn't look as expensive, but it's performance leaves little to forgive. When I'm listening to the Stellar
S300, I've found myself not thinking about any of that—just the music, with the S300.
- mggm56
Amazing soundstage
I'm not adept at audiophile descriptions so I'll keep this relatively short. I replaced a modded HCA-2 with
the S300 and have been mightily impressed. Most noticeable has been the blackness and silence of the
background. That might have been a function of the mods done to the HCA-2, which I did love but always had a
slight hum. The S300 is dead silent. Amazing soundstage and definition between instruments. Perhaps slightly
dry but not overly analytical. I'll take the amazing detail on well-recorded material over warmth hiding
poor recordings. I have plenty of poorly recorded albums that I love, I still can listen to them with this
amp. The trade off is that well-recorded material sounds unreal. I hear things I never heard before! I'm
impressed, and the music sounds wonderful. Thank you!
My system - JA Michell Tecnodec and PS Audio Nuwave front end, Emotiva XSP-1 preamp, PS Audio S300, Alon
Mark IV speakers
- Watts72
Stellar!
My impression in one word: stellar!
The S300's performance is really outstanding. It's very energetic and crisp, has very decent control and
momentum. What I like most are its amazing vivid clarity and detail, this is not the kind of slow, warm,
laid back and dull amp. Yes, maybe it lacks the last bit of extension at both end of frequency extreme. It's
a tiny little bit on the forward and cool side of neutral, but definitely not aggressive, artificial or
edgy. It's textured and colorful with very wide soundstage. And the punchy bass! If this is the one and only
amp I have in a desert island, I can live with it happily ever after. Sound wise, it's that good.
- Eddie
Whole new ballgame
I received my Stellar 300 Amp about a week ago. My system is modest: Cambridge Audio CXA 80, Cambridge Audio
CXC transport, Ohm Walsh Tall 100's with 2.1 Anti Cables. The 300 replaces the 80 watt amp in the CXA 80 and
is connected with low quality single end cables. (the balanced Anticables await the Gain Cell DAC still on
it's way.)
The 300 made an immediate difference in the overall sound of the system, beyond just the additional power.
The Ohm speakers create a broad and deep soundstage, but with the 300 instrument placement and clarity were
clearly improved. Bass was more specific and apparent while the mid-range was richer with greater texture.
Treble seemed heightened as well, though without strident overtones. I listen mostly to jazz and classical
pieces on CD and through Tidal over a Sonos system. The extra quality power showed enhancement with Tidal as
well.
I have to imagine with the Gain Cell DAC in place it will be whole new ballgame.
- JM Unger
Two thumbs up!
The S300 delivers a non-fatiguing presentation, with excellent bass control, and gobs and gobs of detail,
all emerging from a black background. And it does so even at very low listening levels (living in an
apartment, ability to listen at low levels late in the evening is important to me.)
With the Red Wine amp. I had the powered subs crossed over around 70 Hz, at a higher output, to augment the
Red Wine's lower bass output. The S300 delivers such powerful, detailed bass that the powered subs are
almost unnecessary.
I eventually added the subs back in, but crossed over around 45 Hz, just to provide that low end that you
feel almost more than you hear. Just to be clear, the subs are making up for the bass shortcomings of the
open baffle speakers, not any shortcomings of the S300.
I give the S300 two thumbs, way up! Anyone want to buy a Red Wine amp?
- Jdaun
Don't want to be the competition
I will simply say Paul & his fine team have, what I truly believe is the best amp @1.5k that you could
possibly hope own. I wouldn't want to be the competition @ 3k & have to take the S300 on! Every listen just
brings smiles. Clarity, depth, balance, dynamic range, and this thing just doesn't seem to run out of gas! I
have a pair of Magnapan 1.6 QR's with an SVS subwoofer, the S300 delivers slam & articulation, like I
haven't heard before. I had the 1.6's rebuilt by Magnapan 1 year ago after 13 years of serious use, so I am
confident they are up to the task. Okay, I did spin some superlatives, sorry. I will sum it up by saying I
am totally satisfied with the S300 & would recommend it to all, save your coin, this amp kicks some very
serious butt! Thank you Paul & everyone @ PS Audio!
- Stephen
The result of all these strengths gives the S300 a beautiful voice
which mates well with the variety of upstream gear we had on hand for testing. It holds its own against
components that exceed its price tag. This PS Audio component deserves a spot on a short list of bargain
amps that perform beyond what one should expect for the money. After a few weeks with the S300 in my
reference system, I must admit I am smitten with it. I applaud PS Audio's new approach to circuit design
bringing together the benefits of both Class A and Class D technology.
Tone Audio
Rob Johnson
The Stellar DAC/Pre-Amp/Power Amplifier filled my listening room with
3D sound, and they matched well with each of my speakers; the floor standing Audio Physic Tempos, the stand
mounted Platinum Audio ST 1's and the low-to-the ground Mission 727s. I was surprised how different they
made each sound and I spent a great deal of time swapping out my Parasound Halo 2.1 integrated amplifier,
Bel Canto s300 integrated amplifier to make sure I wasn't fooling myself. And, yes, I was hearing something
new and more evocative from my usual suspects.
HiFi Pig
David Blumenstein
Folks, this is the future. We have heard vast improvements of Class D
amplifiers during the last 10 years, and we are at or near the point where the technology is largely
irrelevant to the final sound. The sound of audio components is more dependent on the implementation than on
the underlying technology. The PS Audio Stellar S300 gets so close to perfection that the low purchase price
is an out-of-this-world value. The PS Audio Stellar S300 adds nothing objectionable while delivering
wonderful musical performances.
10 Audio
Jerry Seigel
The PS Audio Stellar S300 stereo amplifier is a terrific performer and
an affordable option for those wishing to upgrade from a receiver or integrated amplifier to separates. It's
not often that an audio product exhibits such high-end performance at such an affordable price, but the S300
hits it out of the park on both counts and has high-end build quality to boot. It's the perfect amp for
someone looking to enter the world of separates for two-channel playback in a small to medium-sized room
while avoiding the typical high-end separates price tag.
Future Audiophile
Bob Barrett
They sounded so good together I couldn't bring myself to try too many
other speakers. The sound was rich with resolution to die for. Magnepan speakers aren't known for their deep
bass punch, but here with the two Stellars the .7 speakers' low bass was kicking with "The Legendary
Skatalites in Dub" reggae album with really low, feel-it-through-your-toes bass. Austin Wintory's orchestral
score for "The Banner Saga" sounded downright huge, and the low bass drums definition was truly stellar!
