Tag Archives: PCM

Ultimate Integrated Amplifier Has It All

Boulder, Colorado, September, 2024 – PS Audio now offers its Stellar Strata MK2 integrated amplifier, with updated features including a moving-magnet/moving coil phono stage, a built-in improved high-resolution DAC, a Class A analog preamp stage, a headphone output, 150 watts of output power, and more.



Paul McGowan, PS Audio CEO noted, “The Stellar Strata MK2 significantly improves upon the original Strata concept of providing a superb-sounding, versatile high-end integrated amplifier. Designing the Strata MK2 gave us the opportunity to implement our latest technical advancements in an all-in-one audio component that offers exceptional sound, has an attractive, compact design, and is easy to use.”

Analog enthusiasts can now enjoy the benefits of superior vinyl playback, thanks to the PS Audio’s Stellar Strata MK2’s new moving magnet/moving coil phono stage. Two stereo pairs of MM and MC RCA phono inputs are provided, plus two RCA and XLR line-level inputs. The Strata MK2 features fully balanced analog preamplifier circuitry.

It’s equally flexible in accommodating digital sources.

The Strata MK2’s built-in DAC can deliver up to 384kHz digital audio (depending on the source), with native DSD capability up to DSD256. The Strata MK2 includes one optical and two coaxial digital inputs, plus asynchronous USB and two I2S inputs. For headphone listeners, the Strata MK2 offers a top-quality Class A headphone amplifier.

The DAC utilizes PS Audio’s exclusive Digital Lens technology to deliver extraordinary sound quality from any digital source. All digital signals are fed in native mode into the DAC’s proprietary Digital Lens, which recognizes the sample rate, re-clocks the data, reduces jitter, and applies other processing.

The Stellar Strata MK2 is fully balanced from input to output, for extremely transparent, detailed sound quality and ultra-quiet operation. Its Class A preamplifier stage features PS Audio’s exclusive analog Gain Cell variable-gain volume circuitry, which eliminates the sonic degradation that can be caused by conventional volume controls.

A high-current, Class D hybrid output stage with exceptional linearity delivers 150 watts of power (into 4 ohms), to ensure that the most delicate musical details are faithfully conveyed, as well as the most complex orchestral crescendos.

Also available in black.

The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 offers a number of additional performance and convenience features. It’s digital filter for PCM sources allows the listener to choose between three settings, to tailor the response to personal preferences and program sources. The Strata MK2 also provides balance and phase controls (the latter for digital sources), input trim for each source, a headphone volume trim control, a USB port for potential future firmware upgrades, and a trigger output.

The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 integrated amplifier is currently available in a choice of silver or black finish at a US manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $3,499 usd/ $4,727 cad. Only available via official dealers near you. For the Silo, Frank Doris.

Stellar Strata MK2 Features at a Glance:

Class A balanced analog Gain Cell preamplifier
Moving magnet/moving coil phono stage
Full-function DAC to accommodate up to 384kHz digital audio and native DSD up to DSD256
Three single-ended and balanced analog inputs; moving magnet and moving coil phono inputs; digital inputs including two coaxial, two I2S, optical, and USB (asynchronous to 384kHz)
Digital Lens technology Digital Lens re-clocks incoming data to reduce jitter and provide additional sonic advantages
150 watts per channel into 4 ohms, 100 watts into 8 ohms; high-current Class A hybrid output stage
Built-in Class A headphone amplifier
5- 15-volt trigger output for connection to other A/V system components
21 lbs., 17″ wide by 2.8″ high by 13.5″ deep

Why Not Laserdiscs In The 2020’s?

In this, our new high tech world, a lot of people may think I’ve gone decidedly crazy.

I’ve always wanted the man cave ‘aka’ cinema room to have a nostalgic feel to it. I started collecting videos at the tender aged of 11. All my friends growing up called me videoboy lol because I was the go-to-guy to get films from on vhs videotape but one format that always intrigued me was laserdisc.

A Little History

LaserDisc (often abbreviated as LD) is a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium, initially licensed, sold and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978.  No one can say for sure if the disco craze at that time was responsible for its early name or if it was simply a play on the word ‘disc’. Whatever the reason, the early DiscoVisions have distinct cover designs which make them quite collectible and they have a certain unique retro-funk all of their own.

Although the format was capable of offering higher-quality video and audio than its consumer rivals- VHS and Betamax videotape, LaserDisc never managed to gain widespread use in North America, largely due to high costs for the players and video titles themselves and the inability to record TV programs. It was not a popular format in Europe and Australia when first released but was popular in the 1990s. By contrast, the format was strongly embraced in Japan and in the more affluent regions of Southeast Asia, such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, and was the prevalent rental video medium in Hong Kong during the 1990s. Its superior video and audio quality made it a popular choice among videophiles and film enthusiasts during its lifespan. The technologies and concepts behind LaserDisc were the foundation for later optical disc formats including Compact Disc (CD), DVD and Blu-ray (BD).

A Little Boasting

LaserDisc had a number of advantages over VHS (and Beta) videotape. It featured a sharper picture with a horizontal resolution of 425 TVL lines for NTSC and 440 TVL lines for PAL discs, while VHS featured only 240 TVL lines in NTSC (VHS HQ offered 260). It could handle analog and digital audio where VHS was mostly analog only (VHS did have PCM audio in professional applications but was uncommon), and the NTSC discs could store multiple audio tracks. This allowed for extras such as director’s commentary tracks and other features to be added onto a film, creating “Special Edition” releases that would not have been possible with VHS. Disc access was random and chapter based, like the DVD format, meaning that one could jump to any point on a given disc very quickly. By comparison, VHS would require tedious rewinding and fast-forwarding to get to specific points.

Please be kind! Rewind!

LaserDiscs were initially cheaper than videocassettes to manufacture, because they lacked the moving parts and plastic outer shell that are necessary for VHS tapes to work, and the duplication process was much simpler. A VHS cassette has at least 14 parts including the actual tape while LaserDisc has one part with five or six layers. A disc can be stamped out in a matter of seconds whereas duplicating videotape required a complex bulk tape duplication mechanism and was a time-consuming process. However, by the end of the 1980s, average disc-pressing prices were over $5 USD per two-sided disc, due to the large amount of plastic material and the costly glass-mastering process needed to make the metal stamper mechanisms. Due to the larger volume of demand, videocassettes quickly became much cheaper to duplicate, costing as little as $1 USD by the beginning of the 1990s.

LaserDiscs potentially had a much longer lifespan than videocassettes. Because the discs were read optically instead of magnetically, no physical contact needs to be made between the player and the disc, except for the player’s clamp that holds the disc at its center as it is spun and read. As a result, playback would not wear the information-bearing part of the discs, and properly manufactured LDs would theoretically last beyond one’s lifetime. By contrast, a VHS tape held all of its picture and sound information on the tape in a magnetic coating which is in contact with the spinning heads on the head drum, causing progressive wear with each use (though later in VHS’s lifespan, engineering improvements allowed tapes to be made and played back without contact). Also, the tape was thin and delicate, and it was easy for a player mechanism, especially on a low quality or malfunctioning model, to mishandle the tape and damage it by creasing it, frilling (stretching) its edges, or even breaking it.

My NTSC/PAL hybrid player.

LaserDisc players also had several advantages of VHS and other format playback machines. Some models, such as my Pioneer CLD-1850 are able to playback both NTSC movies and PAL movies. Since I live in the UK- this means that I can buy Laserdiscs from America or Japan (or anywhere in the world that uses NTSC video) and they will play in my machine. Try doing that with VHS or DVD. Another important innovation for Laserdisc was the fact that it was the very first home video format to offer Dolby Digital Surround Sound- often referred to as AC-3 on Laserdisc jackets and hardware. Many fans of Laserdisc are still enjoying this feature because some movies such as the Alien AC-3 LD were released with their original cinema surround mix on the AC-3 Laserdisc and those mixes are unavailable on today’s modern formats such as Blu-ray or UHD Blu-ray. Many early LD players can even be modified to turn them into AC-3 LD players.

The Death And Re-birth Of Laserdisc

By the time of the advent of the DVD, LaserDisc had declined considerably in popularity, so the two formats never directly competed with each other. In fact, combination LD/DVD players were introduced into the marketplace and continue to be quite popular with collectors as these players tend to be flagship models with advanced features such as digital 3D comb filters and digital frame memory and effects. It’s too bad that I couldn’t afford the format at the time , and I really don’t know why I’ve decided to pull the trigger now as Jez would put it lol.

Prices on the used market are still quite high on these combi players but other machines are affordable and the LD’s themselves can usually be found at affordable prices with exceptions for the ultra rare and more obscure releases.  I can’t say exactly

Some of my LD collection.

what has me so excited again about Laserdisc and why I’m back in the hunt but I really like the way the discs are packaged in big vinyl like slips, they look so cool. The artwork has totally sucked me in. I’ve started my journey, but I don’t know where it will end. And of course that journey has to begin with Schwarzenegger LD’S. “Get to da choppa! Hurry!”  

For the Silo, Anneal Butt- member of Laserdiscs & Hardware Enthusiasts on Facebook.

Featured image via highdefdigest.com

PS Audio Is Now Shipping Its Impressive Music Streamer

 – Versatile music streamer offers exceptional sound quality and easy setup –
Boulder, Colorado, September, 2023 – PS Audio is now shipping its AirLens music streamer, designed to deliver the ultimate in sound quality from streaming audio sources. The new AirLens (SRP: US $1,999.00 / CAD $2,709 ) offers high-resolution streaming via Roon and services such as TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, JRiver, and Audirvana, as well as from an NAS storage device or any DLNA-compatible server.

“The secret of the AirLens’ exceptional sound quality is its galvanic isolation,” noted Paul McGowan, PS Audio CEO. “Removing the physical connection between input and output stages eliminates the unwanted noise that can be introduced by USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The AirLens also perfectly re-clocks the digital signal. The result is a remarkable improvement in resolution, timbral realism, and dynamics.”

The PS Audio AirLens connects to a network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and provides I2S and coaxial digital outputs to connect to a DAC. Typically, noise from any number of sources including a computer, long runs of Ethernet cable, EMI interference via Wi-Fi, and modems and routers all contribute to increased jitter and a loss of fidelity. PS Audio’s galvanic isolation removes this sonic degradation by eliminating the electrical connection between the input and output stages, using only air as the interface. This ensures 100 percent isolation and noise-free delivery of the digital audio signals. In addition, the signal is re-clocked at the output stage for jitter-free, pure digital audio.

Available in silver and black, the AirLens offers PCM decoding up to 352.8 kHz, and DSD to 256 (4x). Its compact size (10 by 7 by 1.5 inches) and sleek design make it easy to integrate into any audio system. Like every PS Audio product, the AirLens is manufactured using premium-quality parts and construction.

AirLens Features at a Glance:

Galvanically isolated from input to output to eliminate network and Wi-Fi noise and offer extraordinary signal purity and sound quality. Connects to a network via 10/100/1000 Ethernet or 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-FiI2S and coaxial digital outputs. Offers PCM up to 352.8 kHz/32-bit and native DSD up to 256 (4x, up to DSD 128 via coax output)DoP (DSD over PCM) operation. Roon-ready, DLNA-ready, compatible with TIDAL Connect (via Roon), Spotify Connect, mconnect, Qobuz (via Roon and mconnect), Dropbox (via Roon), MQA, DLNA 1.5 and UPnP A/V 1.0 Digital Media Renderer. Available in silver or black10″ x 7″ x 1.5″, 4.8 lbs.

About PS Audio

Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.

Highest End Media Streamer Offers Optional Flux Capacitor Upgrade

Wolf Audio Systems Announces Its Luna R High Fidelity Audio Servers

JACKSONVILLE, FL,  — Wolf Audio Systems, a company dedicated to providing the ultimate in digital music source components today announced the introduction of its Luna R Audio Server, created to deliver the finest-available high-resolution and streaming audio playback. Leveraging technology and infrastructure developed for the award-winning  Alpha 3 SX class of audio servers, Wolf has refined the second generation of the Luna to achieve audio quality levels previously found only in Wolf’s full-sized server lines.

Upgrade

The Wolf Luna R is, first and foremost, engineered to deliver extraordinary audio performance. Utilizing the same silicon architecture found in the Alpha 3 SX, Wolf’s second-generation Luna brings the Luna line much closer to Alpha and Red Wolf-level sound quality. The redesigned Flux Capacitor master clock is an optional upgrade; by operating at a high 24MHz clock rate, the Flux Capacitor ensures more accurate reconstruction and transmission of digital audio.

Depending on the option chosen, the Luna R features either an audio-modified Windows 10 Pro or new, proprietary Linux-based WolfOS operating system. The Luna R offers 2TB storage capacity (expandable to 32TB), 24-bit and DSD playback capability, an upgraded Flux Capacitor 24 MHz master clock and additional improvements. The Flux Capacitor creates one of the most perfect USB Audio signals with less jitter and better accuracy, for a more natural and more involving musical presentation, whether in stereo or multichannel PCM and DSD.

Versatile and Compact

The Luna R has a sleek, half-rack design that fits easily into any audio system. It can play back a wide variety of stereo and multichannel audio formats including FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, SACD, DSF, DFF, (PCM) from 16 – 32 bits, 44.1, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 384, and 768 kHz audio, and DSD DoP and Native up to DSD1024.

At the heart of the Luna R is Wolf’s Windows-based operating system. Users can also opt to utilize WolfOS Linux-based operating system, based on Ubuntu software. The WolfOS features a custom kernel that offers the lowest I/O latency possible, keeps the audio functions isolated from the rest of the server and works seamlessly with the Luna R’s output circuitry. The Luna R includes 2TB of SSD (solid state drive) storage capacity for ultra-fast access to all content. An optional 32TB of expansion capability can also be added internally, while the Luna R can interface with external hard drives and any NAS system via the network. The Luna R’s Teac Blu-ray transport, now standard on Wolf audio servers, enables users to rip CDs and play audio discs in DVD and Blu-ray. The drive can also burn discs for storage or transport.

The SX Upgrade

The Luna R incorporates a host of additional refinements to ensure ultimate audio performance. These upgrades are the result of a collaboration between Wolf Audio Systems, Stillpoints and eXemplar Audio. The refinements address the areas of micro-vibration control, electrical grounding and radio frequency interference (RFI) suppression. For example, the server incorporates Portals, a new patent-pending type of grounding-noise conditioning, to remove MHz- and GHz-frequency power contamination and deliver a new level of clarity and resolution. Stillpoints internal standoffs are used to attenuate internal micro-vibrations, while constrained layer damping materials reduces ambient vibration to the case and non-critical componentry. Audience OHNO high-purity oxygen-free copper internal wiring ensures maximum signal purity.

The Luna R offers easy access to its musical content via HDMI and DisplayPort for use with a television and/or monitor. Its wireless connectivity also allows the user to control all functions using a wireless keyboard, mouse or tablet, or via a home automation system remote control, and also remote access via web browser and iOS/Android applications.

Like all Wolf Audio servers, the Luna R is compatible with a wide range of audio applications and streaming audio formats including Roon, JRiver, Audirvana, Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer and others. The server can connect to a TV or monitor to display album cover art, artist, track and album information and more. It offers a full complement of USB, Ethernet, HDMI and IR inputs and outputs, ensuring compatibility and full function for years to come.

The Luna R is currently available in black or silver finish at a retail price of $4,500 usd with 2TB of storage, and $5,000 usd for the Luna R Pure Digital Edition, with the Flux Capacitor included and 4TB of storage. The unit can be supplied with optional Stillpoints Mini SS isolation feet at an additional $500 usd.