[ogodei]

Is it worth it to go for Stellaris Special?

I purchased based on my love for prior versions of the amp and for the speaker outs. I haven't regretted it. The transformers and caps do make it sound slightly different.

But you'll get 99% of the sound from the 'standard' Stellaris. If you're at all concerned about cost-to-performance ratio ( i.e., you're a rational person without money to throw around,) I don't think the SSpecial is worth the step up. The Stellaris is a fantastic amp as it is.

 

[K3cT]

Thanks, guys. I really like my classic EC Balancing Act, it such a great balance between the tube and SS sensibilities. Not the last word in terms of power and grip but I think Craig nailed the timbre perfectly which from what I read the later EC amps seem to move away from this kind of sound. Hence, me curious about the DNA sound maybe to get a similar sensation.

 

[K3cT]

Anyone use the Stellaris with Caldera?

 

[ogodei]

Anyone use the Stellaris with Caldera?

Yes indeedy. Elrog 5U4G, 2A3 whatever, very nice.

 

[Rhodey]

Anyone tried the new Diana MR with the Stellaris?
Any Atrium users?

 

[KIM JOO WAN]

I read past posts and leave a brief evaluation of some amplifiers.

I have donald north audio stellaris, eddie current studio, woo audio wa234.

I Share the best headphone matching (extremely personal) for each amplifier.

Stellaris matches well with multiple headphones. This is the case for both hard and easy headphones. I think this is the biggest advantage. The sound is neat. It's hard to find on other amplifiers. My best match is the Sennheiser 800 series. Among them, JAR800, JAR's modding headphones. I want to give 98 out of 100.

The eddie current studio is also a pretty good amplifier. Compared to stellaris, the sound pressure is quite strong. This one also matches quite well with all the headphones. My best match is hifiman susvara. it's hard to find an amplifier that can make the sound of this headphones. I want to give 95 out of 100.

The wa234 also goes well with headphones. But I haven't found any best matching headphones yet. I'm not saying this amplifier performance isn't great.

 

[Rhodey]

This arrived a few days ago.

Donald was a pleasure to work with. Beautiful sounding amp!

Stellaris with stepped attenuator vol control

#39

 

[Roasty]

This arrived a few days ago.

Donald was a pleasure to work with. Beautiful sounding amp!

Stellaris with stepped attenuator vol control

#39

very beautiful! congrats!

 

[Rhodey]

very beautiful! congrats!

Thank you. Im extremely blessed.

 

[P+D-MI]

Stock tubes?

 

[Rhodey]

Stock tubes?

Yeah at the moment. They’re actually not bad at all. I actually like the stock tubes on the Stellaris more than I did the Stratus. I swapped the rectifier pretty quick on the stratus.

I have a GEC U52, Elrog 5U4G, EML Mesh, and RCA 5U4G rectifiers to roll but I wanted to get a baseline with stock first.
Also have the Linlai Global Elites 2A3s as well but just waiting a bit.

 

[P+D-MI]

5 years later and I'm still running the stock 2a3's on my Stratus but I do have an RCA 5u4g in it.

 

[Rhodey]

5 years later and I'm still running the stock 2a3's on my Stratus but I do have an RCA 5u4g in it.

Yeah the rectifier makes the largest change IMO.
PSVane were with the Stratus but my Stellaris came with JYL 2A3 tubes. I kinda like them. They’re pretty tall too.

 

[Playtron]

Try the winoobo rectifier. Amazing.

 

[RestoredSparda]

Try the winoobo rectifier. Amazing.

Could you elaborate? Lol. Google has almost no results for a winoobo rectifier.