PS AUDIO Stellar Amplifier S300 Black Stellar-S300-Manual-V1.pdf

Owner’s Reference

®

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Table of Contents

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Safety Information
Introduction

Welcome
Contact Information
Symbols Found on the S300

Getting Started

Rear Panel View
Installation Considerations
Power Cables
Connecting Cables

Country Specific AC Voltages
Connecting the Speaker Cables
Black Terminal is not Ground
Biwire
Plugging in the Connecting Cables
Plugging in the Power Cable

Operation Guide

Power Up
Output Disabled Mode
Trigger Input/Output
Logo Button Indicators

Troubleshooting
Specications
Warranty

Registering Your Product
What This Warranty Covers
Shipping
What This Warranty Does Not Cover
Limitations Under This Warranty
Warranty Transfer
Your Product Information

Service Information

Warranty Service Within North America
International Warranty Service
Changes To Our Products

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

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4-6

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8-9
10-11
12-13

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Safety Information

Important Safety
Instructions

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READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS,
SUCH AS VASES, SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THE APPARATUS. THIS APPARATUS
MUST BE CONNECTED TO A MAINS SOCKET OUTLET WITH A PROTECTIVE EARTH
CONNECTION.

Clean only with a dry cloth. Do not place flammable material on top of or beneath the unit.

All PS Audio components require adequate ventilation at all times during operation. Rack
mounting is acceptable where appropriate.

Do not remove or bypass the ground pin on the end of the AC cord. All PS Audio®
products ship with a grounding-type plug. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

HEED ALL WARNINGS

Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. Unplug this
apparatus during lightning storms.

When making connections to this or any other component, make sure all components are
powered off. Turn off all systems’ power before connecting the PS Audio® component to
any other component. Make sure all cable terminations are of the highest quality.

THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE THIS PS AUDIO PRODUCT.
REFER ALL SERVICE NEEDS TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

Please contact your authorized dealer, distributor, or PS Audio® directly if you have any
questions or concerns that are not addressed in this reference manual.

PS Audio®, the sine wave logo, and PerfectWave® are registered trademarks of PS Audio,
Inc., and are restricted for use by PS Audio, Inc., its subsidiaries, and authorized agents.
Stellar™, Power Plant™, MultiWave™, and CleanWave™ are trademarks of PS Audio, Inc.

This product was designed and assembled in Boulder, Colorado with globally sourced
components.

© 2019 PS Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Rev A.

2

Introduction

Welcome

®

Congratulations on your purchase of the Stellar S300 Stereo Amplifier. Stellar proudly
represents our company’s commitment to honoring music and preserving its magic.
Every effort to put musical performance above any other consideration has been lavished
upon this product. It is personal. PS Engineer Darren Myers put his heart and soul into its
design and he’s rightly proud of the results.

Stellar’s design imperative was to produce a truly musical sounding power amplifier that
proudly competed with any amplifier under $5,000. Myers took the challenge and set to
work on a new concept—a hybrid that would combine the best of today’s technology
with time-honored techniques leveraging PS Audio’s forty plus years of experience.

The results are extraordinarily musical. Even from the earliest prototype we knew the
Stellar power amplifier series was going to be something special. Stellar amplifiers never
draw attention to themselves, a rare quality in amplifiers of any price.

Combine the Stellar power amplifier with its mate, the extraordinary Stellar Gain Cell DAC
for a complete system. The synergy between these two units is remarkable.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Contact
Information

Symbols Found
On The S300

Each Stellar product is hand-built in our Colorado facility. We take great pride in what
we build, how it sounds, and how the end user is treated. We’re PS Audio, and making
music and keeping our customers happy and thrilled is what we’re all about.

PS Audio, Inc.
4865 Sterling Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
1 (800) PSAUDIO
[e-mail]
www.psaudio.com

Indicates compliance with European Union Legislation for relevant safety
(Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC) and EMC (EMC Directive 2004/108/EC)
requirements.

Is intended to tell the user that parts inside the product are a risk of electric shock to
persons.

Is intended to tell the user that important operating and servicing instructions are in
the papers with the appliance.

Signifies that the instrument complies with European Union Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment Directive.

Indicates that the unit is in compliance with the European Union Reduction of
Hazardous Substances Directive.

3

Getting Started

3

1

2

Rear Panel View Master Power Switch1

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4

5

IEC AC Power Inlet2

Negative Right Speaker Output3

Positive Right Speaker Output4

6

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

9

7

8

10

11

12

13

5 Volt - 12 Volt Trigger Input9

5 Volt - 12 Volt Trigger Output10

Single-Ended Left Input11

Balanced Left Input12

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16

Installation
Considerations

Power Cables

Negative Right Speaker Output5

Positive Right Speaker Output6

Balanced Right Input7

8

Once your Stellar S300 amplifier is unpacked, you’ll need to find a convenient place to
set it. We recommend floor mounting on a platform or shelf mounting as close to the
speakers as possible. If the source equipment (preamp or DAC) is far away from the
S300, it is recommended to use balanced interconnects if possible. Placement of the
Stellar S300 is important from several aspects: proper cooling and best audio practices.
Make certain wherever you place the S300 there is adequate ventilation space above and
below the unit.

Once you have chosen the location for the Stellar S300, you may use either the provided

power cable or an aftermarket power cable to connect your unit to AC power. For best
results, we strongly recommend the use of a PS Audio PerfectWave® Power AC cable, or
any high-quality aftermarket power cable. It is always preferable to feed your equipment
using an excellent power cable, as there will be a significant performance improvement
over the stock power cable.

Single-Ended Right Input

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Negative Left Speaker Output13

Positive Left Speaker Output14

Negative Left Speaker Output15

Positive Left Speaker Output

4

Getting Started

Connecting
Cables

Country Specic
AC Voltages

Connecting the
Speaker Cables

®

Connecting cables matter. Carefully choose your speaker cables and connecting cables
to the equipment. Our preference for input cables is balanced, XLR type, but well
built single ended RCA cables are fine as well. Speaker cables can make or break the
performance of an amplifier and great care should be taken in using only the best match
for your loudspeakers and Stellar amplifier.

The Stellar S300, as with all PS Audio products, is country specific to its incoming AC
voltage. This means the unit can only be operated at its preset voltage, such as 230 volts
for most of Europe and Asia, 100 volts for Japan, and 120 volts for the US and other
similar countries. Immediate damage can occur if you try and power the Stellar with a
voltage it was not designed to operate on.

With the amplifier firmly seated where you have selected, it is time to connect the speaker
cables. The Stellar S300 uses custom machined connectors. These connectors were
specially engineered to match the performance specifications of the Stellar Amp.

The connectors can accept spade, banana, or wire connections. There are two sets for
each channel on the S300. Most systems will use only one set of the binding posts to
connect the speaker cable. Use only the finest speaker cables and connectors.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

WARNING! Never connect speaker cables while the amp is on. If one speaker lead is
connected (+ or -) and the other lead brushes up against the chassis, there is the potential
to present the speaker with 25VDC. This voltage has the potential to damage a driver
(usually the woofer) in a speaker.

5

Getting Started

Black Terminal
is not Ground

Biwire

Plugging in the
Connecting
Cables

®

Its important to note that the Stellar Amplifier is a fully balanced BTL amplifier. As such
the Black terminal is not ground. If connecting the Stellar S300 to a REL Acoustics
subwoofer, its important to consult the manufacturer’s service documentation to ensure
the S300 is appropriate for the subwoofer.

Some may wish to biwire their speakers to the S300. This practice involves using one
shotgun configured cable or two separate cables. In either case, connect one cable to
one set of binding posts, the other to the second set. On the loudspeaker side, one pair
of cables goes to the tweeter binding posts, the remaining set to the woofer section.

The Stellar S300 amplifier accepts either single-ended RCA or balanced XLR connections
to the preamplifier or DAC feeding it. Regardless of the cable chosen, the Stellar will treat
the incoming signal in such a way that it becomes balanced throughout the amplifier’s
circuitry.

Our preference for connection to the preamplifier is balanced XLR cables. Balanced
signals are lower in noise and take advantage of common mode rejection. Single-ended
RCA cables can also be good, but we shy away from their use at lengths exceeding two
meters.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Plugging in the
Power Cable

Once connections have been made to both the loudspeakers and the preamplifier, it is
time to plug the AC power source in.

The S300 is voltage specific. It ONLY operates at the voltage set at the factory. Do NOT
plug the S300 into a voltage other than what it is set for. Failure to observe this rule may
damage the Stellar.

You are now ready to enjoy your first listen to the Stellar S300 Stereo Amplifier. Making
sure the preamplifier and the system is on, push the standby button on the top left corner
of the S300 front panel. When the blinking stops and the PS logo turns steady on, the
amplifier is ready to play music.

WARNING! DO NOT MAKE CONNECTIONS OR PLUG THE UNIT INTO AC POWER
WITH THE REAR POWER SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION. THIS CAN HARM THE
DEVICE AND CAUSE DAMAGE THAT WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.

6

Operation Guide

Power Up

Output Disabled
Mode

Trigger Input/
Output

Logo Button
Indicators

®

Upon startup, it’s common to hear a small sound from the connected speakers. This is
normal and is not harmful to the loudspeakers.

We recommend leaving the rear panel power switch active at all times, and placing the
unit in Output Disabled Mode when finished listening. Output Disabled Mode can be
activated by pressing the front panel PS Audio logo button, located on the upper left
hand corner of the Stellar S300’s front panel. When the logo button is not lit, the amplifier
is in Output Disabled Mode. This mode keeps the amplifier in a reduced power mode,
maintaining excellent performance benefits while consuming little power.

The Stellar S300 amplifier has a 5V-12V trigger for remotely powering the unit on and off.
It is important to note that the trigger “out” is intended to loop through to a second power
amplifier. The Stellar amplifier does not generate a trigger signal. An input trigger DC
voltage is required.

There are four conditions for the Stellar S300 Amplifier:

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Off - The Logo Button is not illuminated and the unit is in Output Disabled Mode.
On - The Logo Button is fully illuminated. The S300 is powered on and ready.
Flashing Slow - When the Logo Button is flashing slowly, it is in the boot sequence. The

Logo Button will flash slowly for 10 seconds during power up, then the Logo Button will
become steady.

Flashing Fast - When the Logo Button is flashing quickly and then powers off, the unit is
in Fault Protection Mode. The Logo Button will flash quickly for 5 seconds and then the
unit will power down. Read more about Fault Protection Mode in the troubleshooting
section.

7

Troubleshooting

Fault Protect
Mode

No Sound
Comes From
the S300

®

The Stellar S300 is designed to protect itself if it detects a dangerous signal surge or
transient that could damage the circuit. In these instances, the S300 amplifier goes into
Fault Protection Mode. If you see the blue logo button flashing quickly and the Stellar
turns itself off, then it has entered this mode. This can happen if the S300 is heavily
overdriven.

If this occurs, remove power from the amplifier and disconnect all inputs and outputs.
Then, power the S300 back on and verify that it powers on normally. If this is the case,
then power off the amplifier and re-connect the speakers and sources. Try playing music
back at a low level at first.

If after removing all connected equipment the S300 continues to enter Fault Protection
Mode, please contact PS Audio.

Check to make sure power is going into the S300 and that it is connected to a live
source. Make sure the rear panel master power switch is in the on position. Push the front
panel logo light. Check the speaker cable connections to the speakers.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Hum

Ground Loops

If there is hum coming from your loudspeakers it may be coming from your preamplifier,
or it may come from an interaction between components in your system and the S300
amplifier. This type of interaction is known as a ground loop.

The first step to determine where the hum is coming from is to place the Stellar S300 in
Output Disabled Mode and remove the input connection from the preamplifier. Turn the
amp back on and see if there is hum. Chances are good that there will not be. If the hum
is a low frequency soft sound, see if its level goes up and down with the preamp volume
control. If it does, the problem is in the preamplifier. If not, it may be in your connecting
cables. Try a different set. If the hum is a sharper buzz it is most likely a ground loop.

The easiest way to figure out where ground loop problems lie is by the process of
elimination. You need to determine where the hum or buzz is coming from within your
system. If the hum/buzz goes away when you remove the inputs to the power amp, your
next step will be to reconnect the amp and move further down the chain. It is important
to do this in the correct order and take the time to perform the test in a methodical step­by-step manner. If you have a preamp, or processor that is feeding the power amp, your
next step would be to disconnect all inputs to the preamplifier or processor. Once these
are disconnected, and the preamp or processor is connected only to the power amplifier,
turn the system on and listen for hum. Should the hum now appear, it is a problem with
your preamp or processor, or their interaction with the power amp. Before returning the
preamp or processor to the manufacturer, try a cheater plug to break the ground loop.

8

Troubleshooting

Ground Loops
(Continued)

®

Cheater plugs are simple devices that convert a three prong AC plug into a two prong
AC plug. In the act of converting three prongs to two prongs, they disconnect the
ground from the wall socket. Try one of these on the preamp. If you determine that there
is still no hum present when the preamp, processor, or receiver is connected with no
inputs, then selectively begin plugging in your various inputs one at a time. After each
connection, check for hum until you discover the culprit. Use the same method described
above to remove the ground on the offending piece of equipment. As with all products
using switched-mode power supply, proper grounding is important for both safety and
performance. You should not remove or defeat the ground pin of your S300 for any
reason.

Surround processors and any device that is connected to a television cable or satellite
dish can cause a loud buzz and should always be suspect. If, by the process of
elimination described above, you determine it is a component like a cable TV box that is
causing the hum/buzz to occur, and using a cheater plug doesn’t help matters, it may
be necessary to isolate the cable connection (CATV) with an isolation transformer. This
inexpensive device is available at most department store type outlets and is sometimes
called a ‘matching transformer’. If you have problems finding one, call your local cable TV
company for advice. The matching transformer will be placed between the cable TV cord
and the cable box, TV, or processor.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Something
Unrelated
Causing Hum

No Bass

Fuses

9

Just remember, take the system down to its simplest level of connection. Find a way
to hook the system up with as many pieces of the system not connected as possible.
Keep it simple and get it to the point where the hum’s gone. Then, start adding back
components one at a time until the hum returns. Finding the problem is 9/10th of the
work in finding a solution.

It may be that you have the polarity of the amplifier loudspeaker connection wrong on one
channel. When out of phase, polarity will cause bass cancellation and should be avoided.
Check to make sure the red terminal on the S300 goes to the red terminal on your
loudspeaker.

There are no user serviceable fuses in the Stellar S300 Stereo Amplifier.

Specifications

S300 Specications

®

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

10

Specifications

S300 Specications
(Continued)

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Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

11

Warranty Information

Registering Your
Product

What This Warranty
Covers

®

By registering your product, you are validating the start date of your limited warranty. This
limited warranty is in effect for 3 years from the date the unit was first purchased from
PS Audio or its dealers and agents. If you do not register your product within 30 days
of service, a copy of your purchase receipt from an authorized PS Audio dealer may be
used as proof of purchase to establish the warranty start date. If no proof of purchase
from an authorized PS audio dealer or registration is provided, the production date of the
product will be used to determine the warranty start date. You can register your product
online, by phone, by mail, or by email.

This warranty covers defects in material and workmanship for products purchased from
PS Audio or its authorized dealers and agents. In the event your product fails, your sole
remedy under this limited warranty shall be to return the product to PS Audio or an
authorized PS Audio repair center. At the option of PS Audio, the product will be repaired
without charge for parts or labor, replaced, or the purchase price refunded through the
original point of purchase.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Shipping

What This Warranty
Does Not Cover

You are responsible to pay for the safe and proper shipment of the warrantied product
to PS Audio or its authorized repair center. Under this limited warranty, PS Audio or its
authorized repair center will pay the cost of returning the repaired or replacement product
to you.

This warranty does not cover damage due to:

• Accidents, carelessness, improper transportation, misuse, neglect, or abuse

• Failure to follow the operating instructions that are provided by PS Audio in the
Owner’s Reference Manual (available for download at www.psaudio.com)

• Use in any manner inconsistent with PS Audio’s operating instructions (available for
download at www.psaudio.com)

• Lack of routine maintenance

• Connection to an improper voltage supply

• Alterations or modifications to the unit

• Improper or unauthorized repair, including repairs not authorized by PS Audio or a PS
Audio authorized repair center

• Fire, lightning, flood, “Acts of God,” or other contingencies beyond the control of PS
Audio

• Products purchased through an unauthorized source (if you have questions as to
whether or not a dealer is authorized, please contact customer support at www.
psaudio.com

• Products with a factory-applied serial number that has in any way been altered,
defaced, or removed

12

Warranty Information

Limitations Under
This Warranty

Warranty Transfer

Your Serial
Number

®

In no event will PS Audio’s liability to you exceed the origianl purchase price of your unit.
This warranty does not cover the cost of custom installation, customer instruction, setup
adjustments, or signal reception problems. Consequential and incidental damages are
not covered under this warranty. However, some states do not allow the exclusion or
limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation or exclusion may not
apply to you. In the event that your warrantied product cannot be repaired, PS Audio will
either replace or refund the cost of the unit. We reserve the right to replace any out-of­stock, discontinued, or limited edition products with a comparable product. Discontinued
products may not be available for warranty replacement.

This warranty is for the benefit of the original purchaser of the product. The warranty may
be trasferred to a subsequent purchaser during the 3 year warranty period. To do this,
you must contact PS Audio directly to set up a transfer of warranty registration.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

Your Purchase
Information

Date of Purchase

13

Service Information

Warranty Service
Within North
America

®

Please contact PS Audio customer support for service assistance, help with locating
an authorized PS Audio repair center, help with the operation of a product, or for more
information.

Obtaining An RMA#

In order to receive warranty service, you must first obtain a Return Merchandise
Authorization Number (RMA#) prior to returning any item. Please contact PS Audio or
an authorized PS Audio repair center to receive an RMA#. The RMA# must be on all
returned items. If it is not clearly marked, PS Audio will return the package back to you,
freight collect.

Packaging and Shipping

Original packaging should be used for the safe transit of your PS Audio unit to the repair
center. If you do not have the original packaging, PS Audio can sell and ship replacement
packaging to you. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the product to a PS Audio
authorized repair center. You should insure the product for its full retail cost, in the event
it gets lost or damaged in transit. PS Audio is not responsible for damage incurred during
the transit of products sent to us. Shipping your product in non-PS Audio packaging may
void this warranty. PS Audio reserves the right to charge you for new factory packaging
to return your product after a repair.

Stellar™ S300 Stereo Amplifier

International
Warranty Service

Changes To Our
Products

State Law

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights, which vary
from state to state.

PS Audio has authorized distribution in many countries of the world. In each country,
the authorized importing distributor has accepted the responsibility for warranty of the
products sold by that distributor. Warranty service should be obtained where the product
was purchased.

PS Audio reserves the right to modify the design of any product without obligation
to purchasers of previously manufactured products, and to change the prices or
specifications of any products without notice or obligation to any person.

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