PS Audio Gain Cell Dac?

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Mrip, Jun 24, 2018.

  1. Mrip

    Mrip Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    64
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Brooklyn
    It has the features I want - one box solution, solid state, non-fatiguing (according to the internet), good remote, balanced and SE inputs/outputs, SE headphone out, made in the US, clean quality look. But on the other hand, the product is mostly an empty box, and the company kind of triggers my BS meter. Anyone try it out?
     
  2. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    Well...

    Their DStream and DStream Jr. DACs are the real stuff, lets start with that.

    It's expensive stuff, since they go through distributors, but still TOTL.

    This though, is a SABRE DAC, with a (nice, I'm sure) preamp, at the price of a Gungnir Multibit.

    Not that you can't make SABRE sound good, but why would you spend that much on a sabre DAC when you can buy Gungnir Multibit, Soekris 1541, or Holo Springs for that cash?
     
  3. Mrip

    Mrip Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    64
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Brooklyn
    I was considering it mostly because of its combo of features, because the company has a b&m presence in the US, and because you can trade in old gear at full MSRP, but I have no idea how it sounds so figured I'd ask around. I'll check out the Soekris, I like what I'm seeing. Thanks!
     
  4. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    394
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    I just bought one of these used. I plan to use it in my stereo system. I've wanted to try a PS Audio piece for awhile. It was sort of an impulse buy because I impulse bought a power amp from the FS section here. I'm spiraling out of control.

    I got tired of manually changing the input on my Holo Spring L3. I have an Nvidia Shield TV for TV/Movie playback. This feeds the USB input of the Holo. Alternatively, I have a Singxer SU-1 feeding the Holo by I2S for dedicated music playback with Odroid C2 and Archphile/MPD.

    Since I bought the stereo power amp (Nuforce STA200) I thought it would be a fun exercise to locate an interesting preamp with a bit more function but still an elegant simplicity. The Schiit Saga is a bit too simple, and the Freya is unnecessarily complex IMO. I scoured used websites for awhile and decided to give the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC a try. I'm waiting for it to arrive but I will post some opinions here after I have spent some time with it.

    The Stellar Gain Cell DAC will allow me to switch inputs with a remote. This sounds ridiculous but since this is a living room stereo setup, I've been longing for this function for a long time. I will run Nvidia Shield TV by USB to the built in SGCD Sabre DAC which I think will be just fine for TV and movies. My Holo Spring will run balanced to the SGCD inputs, and the SGCD will be able to output single ended to the new (used) power amp that I got.

    Finally, the SGCD has a headphone output. I've actually read good things about its headphone out. Most listeners agreed that it was not monumental, but it was "pretty good." For my purposes this will further add value to the equation by giving me an emergency headphone output in my stereo system. It's not something I plan to use for critical listening but in the event that I want to do some private listening while watching TV/Movies it's going to be a really nice convenience.

    I have no idea what to expect with the sound of this side-grade to my stereo system but I am excited to have new toys to play with!!
     
  5. thetakeout

    thetakeout New

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Texas, America

    Greg, how are you likening the PS Audio Preamp/Dac? I would love to hear and update!
     
  6. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    394
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    I sold the Stellar GainCell DAC last August. I ended up putting the NuForce STA200 into my bedroom. I am moving, so that and the rest of my bedroom setup will be sold soon. I am incapable of keeping gear for a long period of time regardless of how good or bad it is. It's a disease.

    Overall, the Stellar GainCell DAC was acceptable. I'm happy that I tried it and I enjoyed using it, but it definitely was not among the best equipment I've ever owned. I ended up trying its internal DAC with I2S after I sold my Holo Spring, and it was surprisingly satisfying. I2S was a dramatic improvement from the USB input alone. I ended up using it like this for awhile before I sold it. The USB input was very average quality for TV/Movies and I would never recommend anyone use it for critical listening, or rely on it to be a long term DAC solution. If you had a Singer SU-1 or some other HDMI I2S device available to you, I would strongly recommend testing to see if you like the sound of the GainCell DAC using I2S. I don't know what phenomenon was at work here, but I do know that the difference was clearly discernible, and it represented a desirable improvement to the sound quality. In reality, I bought it for its ability to be a preamp and not for its secondary use as a DAC. The DAC was just a utility that I needed as a stop gap solution while I shuffled around the other components in my system.

    I sold the GainCell DAC not because it was inherently bad. Again, it was acceptable. It was more that the Nuforce STA200 was just a little bit too colored for use on my Focal Electra. I needed something better. The GainCell DAC was too costly to keep in my secondary bedroom setup so I sold it just to extract some cash out of it. Somewhere around this time I sold my Audio-GD Master 10 integrated amp as well, so there were more funds available to buy more stuff that I didn't necessarily need. I am now using a Sony TA-A1ES which I am loving. The headphone output is excellent, and the amp itself is a joy to use and sounds great. Alas, I think I am going to sell it, too. I want to try the Schiit Aegir whenever it shows up.

    My buddy loaned me a Schiit Saga recently and I am using that now with my NuForce STA200 in my bedroom with ELAC Unifi UB-5. This is super, super awesome. The Saga is exceptionally uncolored (without the tube obviously), but I would also describe the preamp function of the Stellar GainCell DAC along those same parameters. The Saga is a small box and it is a good fit to a simple system like I have in my bedroom.

    The Saga is an excellent preamp. The GainCell DAC was also an excellent preamp from my experience. However, the GainCell DAC has more utility than the Saga. It might be more fair to compare the Freya and the GainCell DAC. I have never used the Freya, but from what I gather based on reading other people's accounts, the GainCell DAC has more utility because it has the built in DAC. It's an average DAC, but it's still a functionality that can be used when necessary. In terms of being a preamp, I like that the GainCell DAC was transparent. I could not detect any major flaw in its functionality as a preamp alone. I've read that the Freya is not as transparent as the Saga. You could buy 5 or 6 Sagas for the cost of 1 GainCell DAC. That makes for a costly preamp and a DAC that you probably don't want in the GainCell DAC. At least it comes in 1 box so that's sort of nice I guess.

    Sorry for the incoherent brain dump, but I haven't thought about this one for awhile.
     
  7. thetakeout

    thetakeout New

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Texas, America
    So is the NuForce and amp and DAC? If so I am assuming you are a fan of its internal dac?
     
  8. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    394
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    The Nuforce STA200 is a power amp only. It requires a pre-amp of some sort.

    I was interested in it because it was originally a $1300 piece that seemed to have pretty well regarded roots. You can see much of that in the intro to this review here http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/optoma-nuforce-sta200-power-amplifier/

    At some point, NuForce abandoned this amp and moved into Class D. I don't know why, but suddenly this amp was on fire sale at all retailers for $500 and used ones were selling for less than $400. This used price was well within my impulse purchase threshold.

    Overall it's a very "fun" sounding amp. It's also really small which I was delighted with after using my 83lb Audio-GD Master 10 for so long. It has excellent bass, really nice midrange, and a reasonable amount of everything else you could want in an amp. I think it's a great value and I've definitely had a lot of fun with it. I would be less excited if I paid retail for it. I feel the same way about my Sony TA-A1ES. They're both super good value when found used.

    The NuForce STA200 also has a 5V DC output which is really interesting. I'm not sure what this was intended for, but I used it to power a raspberry Pi for music playback as well. This was not a long-term thing, I just wanted to test it to see if it worked. This is another level of utility that someone may want for something like a bedroom system since it helps keep things tidy and is a nice convenience.
     
  9. thetakeout

    thetakeout New

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2019
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Texas, America

    Thanks for the informative reply's. What dac are you using now?
     
  10. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    394
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    I have been using an Audio-GD NFB7.77 for a bit, and I just got a Gustard DAC-X26. I only plan to keep one, but I have not been able to do a real shootout yet. Too busy with other stuff.
     
  11. Justrukin

    Justrukin New

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2023
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Detroit
    I know, very old thread... I just picked up a used Gaincell, along with a new Parasound A23+ amplifier to power my new to me/used, Zu Dirty Weekend speakers, circa 2017. I have about $3300 invested in all three pieces... I heard this combination when I was lucky enough to audition the Zu speakers before purchasing. This is the combo the owner had hooked up, and this guy has and has owned a lot of high end gear over the years. He is a regular at Axpona, and knows many in the industry.

    He has three of the Parasound/Gaincell setups in his house, and continually is moving gear in and out, but always comes back to these three pieces. And I have to say, he has nailed it. Listening to my Zu's right now using the Gaincell internal DAC with the A23+... I have both the Denafrips Athena pre and their Venus II 12th DAC in the rack right now, both units are for sale.

    I have never been a PS Audio fan, cannot stand Paul McGowan, real snake oil salesman in my book after watching more than a few of his YT videos. Well, I am eating crow now, this unimpressive DAC/Preamp delivers in spades. Even the internal DAC with those inexpensive ESS chips is blowing me away, and no ear fatigue. The Parasound A23+ is just the icing on the cake and pairs perfectly with the Gaincell. My buddy has tried amps in the $10,000+ range, I saw them laying around his two listening area... The man's living room and basement are a high end audio storage facility. And this is the gear he runs. Says a lot to me. My ears are enjoying this setup right now. ;-)

    I am very happy I ignored all of the negative reviews on the Gaincell and actually auditioned it. And according to my buddy, go with the Parasound A23+, that is the best pairing he has found to date.
     

Share This Page