PS Audio Stellar S300 in 2025

[madmanmandzu]

I'm looking to level up my desktop audio setup and would love some input from this community! I'm currently running a hybrid system and want to move entirely to passive speakers with a dedicated amp.

Current Setup ​

I use Roon on my Mac, which feeds into a Gustard U18 DDC (via IIS) -> Gustard X26iii-> Schiit Mjolnir 3. The Mjolnir 3 handles both my headphone listening and acts as a preamp.

I also have my SACD player running directly into the Mjolnir 3's preamp section, sending an RCA signal out to my active desktop speakers.

I want to ditch the active speakers, buy a proper power amp, and get some passive speakers.

The Amp Question​

I've been seeing some pretty good deals on the PS Audio Stellar S300 and it has me thinking.

Is the Stellar S300 a solid purchase in 2025?

I know this is backwards, but I'm considering snagging the amp first. I haven't decided on which passive speakers to buy yet, so I'm trying to find an amp that is a good all-rounder.

Room ​

It's a small room, and since the speakers are on my desk (about 6 feet apart), I guess you could call it a near-field listening environment.

Any thoughts on the S300, or recommendations for a good power amp/passive speaker pairing for this kind of setup?

 

[windansea]

I had a Stellar S300-- it was OK, but I sold it and got hypex ncores and it's way more powerful and I think cleaner. S300 has Ice power modules and it still had a tiny bit of edge like old school class D. Ncore made the breakthrough to class D that equals class A. So I would suggest anything hypex or purifi. I used to have class A but now with my ncores I don't even think about amps anymore.

 

[Everett T]

I'm looking to level up my desktop audio setup and would love some input from this community! I'm currently running a hybrid system and want to move entirely to passive speakers with a dedicated amp.

Current Setup ​

I use Roon on my Mac, which feeds into a Gustard U18 DDC (via IIS) -> Gustard X26iii-> Schiit Mjolnir 3. The Mjolnir 3 handles both my headphone listening and acts as a preamp.

I also have my SACD player running directly into the Mjolnir 3's preamp section, sending an RCA signal out to my active desktop speakers.

I want to ditch the active speakers, buy a proper power amp, and get some passive speakers.

The Amp Question​

I've been seeing some pretty good deals on the PS Audio Stellar S300 and it has me thinking.

Is the Stellar S300 a solid purchase in 2025?

I know this is backwards, but I'm considering snagging the amp first. I haven't decided on which passive speakers to buy yet, so I'm trying to find an amp that is a good all-rounder.

Room ​

It's a small room, and since the speakers are on my desk (about 6 feet apart), I guess you could call it a near-field listening environment.

Any thoughts on the S300, or recommendations for a good power amp/passive speaker pairing for this kind of setup?

Think of speakers first, not the electronics as that is the easy part.

 

[JSmith]

PS Audio Stellar S300

Review and Measurements of PS Audio S300 PWR Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the PS Audio Stellar S300 Stereo Power Amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. The S300 costs US $1,499 from the company. Fitting the design language of the rest of the PS Audio and using similar enclosure, the S300 is quite hefty considering...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[madmanmandzu]

Thanks everyone for the input! I ended up going in a totally different direction and picked up a Denon PMA-1700NE. I’m going to keep my desktop setup strictly for headphones and set up a small rack beside the desk for the new two-channel system. Since I already own the Denon DCD-1700NE, the stack looks great together.

I had the chance to demo the PMA-1700NE in person and it absolutely impressed me. I also tried a few speaker options while I was there, even did some near-field tests, and the KEF LS50 Meta really surprised me with how good they sounded up close. I wanted to love the Klipsch RP-600M II but that rear port might cause issues since they'd be placed somewhat close to a wall.

Thoughts on additional speakers to test out?

 

[Chrispy]

Subs, but the Denon unit won't help much there What was so impressive about this integrated amp that makes it so different from others?

 

[Everett T]

Thanks everyone for the input! I ended up going in a totally different direction and picked up a Denon PMA-1700NE. I’m going to keep my desktop setup strictly for headphones and set up a small rack beside the desk for the new two-channel system. Since I already own the Denon DCD-1700NE, the stack looks great together.

I had the chance to demo the PMA-1700NE in person and it absolutely impressed me. I also tried a few speaker options while I was there, even did some near-field tests, and the KEF LS50 Meta really surprised me with how good they sounded up close. I wanted to love the Klipsch RP-600M II but that rear port might cause issues since they'd be placed somewhat close to a wall.

Thoughts on additional speakers to test out?

Are you planning on running a sub? If so the Denon has no preouts, main or sub, so if that's a future possiblity you may want to rethink it FWIW.

 

[Everett T]

Subs, but the Denon unit won't help much there What was so impressive about this integrated amp that makes it so different from others?

Beat me to it and agreed.

 

[Chrispy]

Beat me to it and agreed.

The attraction of limited feature 2ch integrated amps largely escapes me....

 

[Everett T]

The attraction of limited feature 2ch integrated amps largely escapes me....

Right? For just a bit more money you can get the Langdorf 1120 and all of it's benefits.

 

[madmanmandzu]

Are you planning on running a sub? If so the Denon has no preouts, main or sub, so if that's a future possiblity you may want to rethink it FWIW.

My subs accepts speaker level inputs, so I can run the sub directly from the speaker terminals on the PMA-1700NE. I also usually manage the crossover, phase, and volume entirely through the SVS app, so I’m not relying on the amp for bass management anyway.

 

[madmanmandzu]

The attraction of limited feature 2ch integrated amps largely escapes me....

I chose the Denon for sound, not features. I auditioned it in person and I simply preferred the presentation especially for low to medium volume listening. It had the tone, dynamics, and refinement I was after. I already have a full headphone setup on my desk, so this 2 channel system is strictly for SACD, CD, vinyl and some near-field listening. For my use case, the PMA-1700NE’s feature set is more than enough.

I’m not trying to build a home theater receiver disguised as a stereo amp. I wanted an integrated that’s clean, understated, matches my DCD-1700NE, and doesn’t need a ton of digital bells and whistles.

In the end, I just preferred it over the other amps I had available to test. The others were the Yamaha A-S801, NAD C368, Rotel RA-1572 MKII, Audiolab 7000.

Isn’t that what it’s about? Finding the sound that connects with you, not just what measures best on paper?

 

[Chrispy]

I chose the Denon for sound, not features. I auditioned it in person and I simply preferred the presentation especially for low to medium volume listening. It had the tone, dynamics, and refinement I was after. I already have a full headphone setup on my desk, so this 2 channel system is strictly for SACD, CD, vinyl and some near-field listening. For my use case, the PMA-1700NE’s feature set is more than enough.

I’m not trying to build a home theater receiver disguised as a stereo amp. I wanted an integrated that’s clean, understated, matches my DCD-1700NE, and doesn’t need a ton of digital bells and whistles.

In the end, I just preferred it over the other amps I had available to test. The others were the Yamaha A-S801, NAD C368, Rotel RA-1572 MKII, Audiolab 7000.

Isn’t that what it’s about? Finding the sound that connects with you, not just what measures best on paper?

I think you're fooling yourself on the "sound" thing. Measurements vary a lot more than "sound".

 

[Chrispy]

Right? For just a bit more money you can get the Langdorf 1120 and all of it's benefits.

Don't know about the Lyngdorf stuff, heard a variety of opinions about it more than seen anything consclusive....

 

[JSmith]

I had the chance to demo the PMA-1700NE in person and it absolutely impressed me.

I assumed you meant you liked it visually and it had all the functions, power etc. you need for the application.

Amps, operating within their design limits and not clipping at the same power output generally will sound identical unless there is copious amounts of THD+N, IMD and/or frequency response deviations... changes to FR and high IMD are going to be the most audible. Amps with a flat FR and low THD+N generally won't have a sound, which is exactly what we want in an amp... a "straight wire with gain" basically, or a linear amp.

The PMA-1700NE is fine and will serve you well.


JSmith

 

[Everett T]

Don't know about the Lyngdorf stuff, heard a variety of opinions about it more than seen anything consclusive....

The additional connectivity and Room Perfect is worth the couple of hundred dollars, IMHO.

 

[Chrispy]

The additional connectivity and Room Perfect is worth the couple of hundred dollars, IMHO.

When does the Lyngdorf price only cost a couple hundred more? Haven't looked in a while, but was a much bigger difference over equivalently featured/powered units last I looked....

 

[Everett T]

When does the Lyngdorf price only cost a couple hundred more? Haven't looked in a while, but was a much bigger difference over equivalently featured/powered units last I looked....

$2299 for the Denon vs $2459 for the Langdorf.

 

[voodooless]

My subs accepts speaker level inputs, so I can run the sub directly from the speaker terminals on the PMA-1700NE. I also usually manage the crossover, phase, and volume entirely through the SVS app, so I’m not relying on the amp for bass management anyway.

That is really sub-optimal (pun intended). You’re not able to cross the main speakers, meaning they get the full spectrum. Especially with smaller speakers like LS50, this is a big disadvantage. You’ll end up with less maximum volume and more distortion.

For $2300 there are lots of better options with more features.

 

[Chrispy]

My subs accepts speaker level inputs, so I can run the sub directly from the speaker terminals on the PMA-1700NE. I also usually manage the crossover, phase, and volume entirely through the SVS app, so I’m not relying on the amp for bass management anyway.

Except you're running your speakers full range rather than actually managing a crossover.