DNA Stellaris - Official Thread

DACs and Digital
82

Hi Stratus / Stellaris folks!

I recently had the fortune to take delivery of Donald’s demo Stratus to try out for a few weeks with the intention of possibly ordering a Stellaris. I’m only posting this one photo from a particular angle so as not to show some holes in the prototype unit that wouldn’t be there in the production unit (and the photo was pre-cleared with Donald):

Stratus Shareable
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After a couple of days’ listening, I have a lot of praise to throw at this amp. However, I also can’t help but feel I’m not getting its full potential (more on that later). The sonic features that jump out at me most as compared to all tube amps I’ve had the pleasure of having in my home (Woo WA5, Feliks Euforia AE, ZMF Pendant) are an incredibly black background and impressive holographic imaging and voice separation - which may very well be a feature of that black background. The Utopias being very sensitive, one of my biggest complaints of other amps has been a noticeable noise floor, and I cannot get a perceptible hum on this amp, even turning it to the max with no music on. Just nothing.

As well as my sonic memory serves, the Stratus would be a clear winner for me with its stock tubes versus the others with their stock tubes. However, as good as it sounds with its stock complement (6N1P input, standard PSVane 2A3 power, Winged C 5U4G), it seems to have similar issues to all of the other amps I’ve had with their stock tubes: a little too bloated a bloomy, especially in the mids and bass. It just doesn’t have the tightness and control I seek. For example my Woo WA5 was a bloomy, bloaty mess with its stock tubes, but now that I have it packed with high-end tubes (Takatsuki 300B, Philips Miniwat GZ34, Sylvania 6SN7W), it’s very tight and controlled.

So I face a dilemma. It’s hard for me to commit to what would be my most expensive audio item (with a ~9 month wait time, no less) without feeling ultra confident that I can clean up those last edges with new tubes. However, I don’t have any high-end 5U4G or 2A3 tubes on hand to swap in.

So, I was hoping I could reach out to this community for help: is there any chance someone out there might have such tubes on hand that I could borrow for a week or two (for a fee)?

I’m thinking something along the lines of PSVane ACME or KR Audio 2A3, and something like an RCA or GEC 5U4G. I’m open to other options, but I’m going for ultimate speed, clarity, and tightness. No warmth needed. I would be willing to pay $100 / week, and am happy to put down a deposit for the full replacement value of the tubes up front, should anyone be willing to step up. I’m incredibly careful with all of my equipment and would be putting a maximum of 75 hours on the borrowed tubes. Of course, should any issues arise, I would pay full replacement value.

So, that’s where I am. All thoughts, suggestions, and loaner tubes are greatly appreciated!

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Quick tube rolling update! This evening, I swapped in my Philips metal base GZ34 (pre-cleared with Donald) for the stock Winged C 5U4G, and it has made a big difference in the control of the amp. Similar to what it did for my Woo WA5, the amp is far faster on the decay of notes, and that bloat I mentioned in my prior post is gone. Now, Donald did mention that the GZ34 may not be as quiet as the 5U4G because of how he has the rectifier slot electrically configured, but that, otherwise, there is no reason not to give it a shot. I can confirm that I can get a slight hum with the GZ34 tube if I turn the amp allllll the way up (no hum with the 5U4G, even all the way up), but most tracks are in the 1-2 range on the dial, so no audible hum within listenable levels.

I now feel like I’m fully enjoying the amp. I’d still love to get a proper 5U4G in there, and some slick 2A3’s, so I’ll continue that search as well.

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Throw a GEC U52 on that list too. Glad you are having fun with that amp. The airy soundstage and clean imaging were my two favorites with it.

I was happy with the stock tubes. I only rolled a few rectifiers in it while I had it. I didn’t have any 2a3’s on hand and will be looking forward in getting some good ones in once mine comes in. @ProfFalkin previously brought up LinLai E-2a3 as a great tube for the it too.

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Ohhhh, good call. I was looking at that tube as a potential option earlier today. I was hoping to avoid buying new 2A3 tubes, but compared to even used KR audio ones, those seem to be a decent value.

There’s a GEC U52/5U4G on ebay right now, but it’s a cool $445 :frowning: That’s a bit rough for an amp trial, even though I’m guessing I could recoup most of that by selling it if I had to…

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The rectifier is the biggest change for what you are looking for.
You could get an RCA 5U4G from Brent Jesse in a couple of days for $70.
The stock rectifier sounds excessively slow in comparison, adds an element of clarity.

The 2A3’s matter as well, but the biggest change from those was an increase in resolution.
I just broke one of my PSVane 2A3-T tubes, so i’m back on the stock tubes, until my Lin Lai E-2A3 ‘s turn up.

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@andris - They don’t suck.

http://www.mableaudio.com/en/productview.asp?sid=10030

Edit: Shipping from Russia or wherever they come from… That does suck, but it eventually got here.

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Glad you did, I was going to suggest that to you. Donalds amps seem to really respond well to good rectifiers. They were my favourite tube to play around with on the Starlett.

The 2a3 NOS market is getting pretty sparse from what I gather. I think you almost have to really consider new production as your go to tubes. The top Psvane and Linlai are good tubes from all I have gathered. KR have had QC issues in the past, which gives me pause given their pricing. Psvane QC seems to have improved. Lins havent been around long enough for me to have gathered any QC insight.

That is unfortunately the going rate for those. That listing has them measuring more out of balance than I would personally like but Im not sure how truly big of a deal that really is and is likely me just being picky.

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Another well regarded 5u4g is the EML mesh new production. Goes for around 300 or so new.

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I know Donald likes the EML rectifier, he mentioned it when I exchanged email with him.
I’d like to try the KR special edition 5U4G they made BUY ONLINE KR AUDIO 5U4G RK LIMITED SERIES BEST300B.COM , I might pick one up.

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I was aware of that KR but havent read much about it. If you do indeed get it report back, Id be interested in your findings.

I have to be careful not to overly feed my rectifier addic… I mean fascination.

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I got a pair a while ago. They are the best 2A3s in my collection for my two EC Aficionados (I switch between two locations). But one of the Linlai has an occasional very faint intermittent buzz, Grant Fidelity are willing to replace it, I just need to to ship it back. I have a pair of Psvane ACMEs on my other Aficionado that are the next best in my collection. Next are the RCA M-R black plates I’m listening with right now, which lose a bit in the faster transients, slightly more rounded vs the others. I’ve a Stellaris on order, looking forward to what it offers vs the Aficionado.

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How do you find their tonality in comparison to the Psvanes?

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@perogie - thanks for all of those insights! Super helpful.

Donald mentioned this one as well. I’ve been aware of the EML 5U4G mesh for a while, and while online reviews are sparse, at least a couple have mentioned this particular rectifier as being on the warmer side, which I’m generally trying to avoid. If you feel differently, please do tell. If anything, I’d prefer new production rather than wading through the NOS mess, but not if NOS is still the better way to go.

Yeah. I’d feel better about paying that if I actually owned my DNA amp, but it’s a bit harder to swallow if I only am getting a week or two out of it, only to have to hold for ~10 months or sell. I didn’t think the GZ34 was going to play so nicely, but given that it does, I feel less urgency on going crazy on the rectifier for now.

I know I mentioned PSVane in my list, but on second thought, I think I might avoid PSVane, as it seems they tried to bully Grant Fidelity into not carrying competitor products. I’m not against buying gear from China, but very turned off by them trying to pull crap like this. It seems like Linlai is basically ex-PSVane engineers who aren’t massive jerks, so I’d probably go that direction if I go with a Chinese tube.

Did not know that. I’ll be careful with them.

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Oh man - that’s really tempting…

Stop being so helpful and making me want to buy more tubes! :wink:

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I was aware of the and I would be of the same thinking. Id support them by buying Lin E series.

Thats my recollection as well. Might pair well with other tubes though but I dig the drive for neutrality. I would probably try one just to see as its not crazy crazy expensive as these things go.

I think we have to accept that the NOS market isnt getting bigger unless some folks are sitting on warehouses of these things only to release them upon their deaths or something.

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Linlai 2A3 climbing my list…

Just wondering what my wait would be. I’ll probably chat w/ Grant Fidelity tomorrow…

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They have been backordered recently but the last time I looked at their tube collection they were in stock.

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This is from memory and a bit of a guess because I never used them on the same Aficionado with the same DAC and exact same headphones (close, two ZMF Verité closed with two different woods). With those big caveats, Linlai after burn-in feels a bit cleaner, faster, slightly cooler. But still quite close, I’m not sure I could reliably separate them in a blind test.

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Sounds good. I have read that the ACMEs may have better treble extension but its probably very close and source dependent.

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@andris , you’re describing my experience when I replaced an RCA 5U4G with an Amperex GZ34/5AR4 on my Nautilus. Just be careful about spending huge amounts of money on a “proper” 5U4G, in case you find that you prefer the sound of the 5AR4 like I did. Luckily I was able to return the RCA for a full refund.

Of course I’m talking about a different amp, and I’ve never heard a holy grail 5U4G like the GEC, but I wanted to at least warn you.

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