The Stellar Strata MK2 is a streaming integrated amplifier by PS Audio that delivers MM phono input, two I2S inputs, Class A headphone amplifier.. It was released in 2023. It is a 2-channel design using a Class D output stage. Speakers connect via binding posts. It has a built-in DAC, so you can play digital sources directly with no separate DAC unit needed. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has an MSRP of $3,499.
There are 2 PS Audio amplifiers in our database. Below you can see the main specs of these amps.
PS Audio Integrated Amplifier Series
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is rated at 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms. PS Audio provides this wattage at a THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of 0.02% at 1kHz, 10W into 4 ohms which is an important indicator of distortion at the given values (lower THD is better).
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 100 watts into 8-ohms at 0.02% at 1kHz, 10W into 4 ohms
- 150 watts into 4-ohms
How loud will 100 watts actually play in your room? →
Which speakers suit the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2?
100 W into 8 ohms, 150 W into 4.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is rated at 100 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our 91 to 120 watts band. The next band up is 121 to 180 watts, which is worth about 1.5dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room. Plenty of systems are better served by the 61 to 90 watts band and better speakers.
When pairing the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | Poor |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has total of 1 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 1
Outputs
- Speaker Outputs
- Yes Headphone Output
Bluetooth Connectivity
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 doesn't have bluetooth connectivity feature. In order to stream your music via bluetooth, the easiest way is to connect an external bluetooth receiver to your PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2. Two bluetooth receivers that we recommend are the
iFi Zen Blue V2 and the
Audioengine B1.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Balanced connections
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has a balanced XLR input. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more the connection is worth. Whether a balanced connection also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same power either way, so it is worth reading the maker's own wording rather than assuming.
DAC and Digital Music
The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2's built-in DAC allows the connection of digital sources directly, eliminating the need for an external DAC.
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 150 into 4.
- ✓Class D output stage, so it runs cool and wastes little power as heat - which is how it fits in a small case.
- ✓Built-in DAC, so a TV, computer or streamer can connect digitally with nothing in between.
- ✓Phono stage built in, so a turntable needs no separate preamplifier.
- ✓Network connected, over wi-fi.
- ✓Balanced XLR inputs, worth having on a long cable run.
- ✓Headphone output.
- ✓Detachable mains lead (IEC).
- ✗Only 1 analogue input, so a second source means unplugging the first.
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 External Dimensions and Weight
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) 2.80 x 17.00 x 13.50 inch (71 x 431.8 x 343 mm ). The unit weighs
9.5 kg (20.9 lbs).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of an integrated amplifier may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is approximately 1481.1cm2 / 229.6inch2.
- Width: 431.8mm (17.00")
- Height: 71.0mm (2.80")
- Depth: 343.0mm (13.50")
- Weight: 9.5 kg (20.9 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~1481.1cm2 / 229.6inch2
- Volume: ~10.5 liter / 2.8 gallon
Available colors
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is available in Black and Silver color options.
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 Integrated Amplifier can be found below:
Official Product Page for PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2
Warranty
3 Years of parts warranty and 3 Years of labor warranty is generally provided for the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 by the manufacturer.
| General |
| Brand |
PS Audio |
| Full Model Name |
PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 |
| Release Date |
2023 |
| Amplifier Type |
Integrated Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class D |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
100 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
150 watts |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| THD |
0.02% at 1kHz, 10W into 4 ohms |
| Minimum Impedance |
|
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
Yes |
| Bluetooth |
No |
| WiFi |
Yes |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
1 |
| Phono Input |
MM |
| Headphone Output |
Yes |
| Removable Power Cord |
IEC |
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
71.0mm (2.80") |
| Width |
431.8mm (17.00") |
| Depth |
343.0mm (13.50") |
| Weight |
9.5 kg (20.9 lbs) |
| Available Colors |
Black, Silver |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
How much power does the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 have?
The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 delivers MM phono input, two I2S inputs, Class A headphone amplifier.. It increases its output into 4 ohms, so it has some headroom for harder-to-drive speakers.
Does the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 use vacuum tubes?
No. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is a solid-state amplifier - there are no vacuum tubes in it.
What amplifier class is the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2?
The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 uses a Class D amplifier design. Class D is a modern switching design that runs cool and wastes very little energy as heat, which is how makers fit high power into a compact, light chassis.
Does the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 have a built-in DAC?
Yes. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has a built-in DAC, so you can feed it a digital source directly without buying a separate converter.
Can I connect a turntable to the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2?
Yes. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has a built-in phono stage, so a turntable can be connected directly without a separate phono preamp.
Does the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 have Bluetooth?
No. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 does not have Bluetooth built in; you would need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its inputs.
Can the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 stream music over the network?
Yes. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 is a streaming amplifier, with Wi-Fi. It plays from your network without a separate streamer.
Does the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 have a headphone output?
Yes. The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has a Yes-inch headphone output on the front panel for private listening.
How much does the PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 cost?
The PS Audio Stellar Strata MK2 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $3,499.
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