Stello DA220 DAC

earlmarc · « **on:** 17 Jun 2004, 03:31 pm »

Doug Schneider from Soundstage raves about the $1195 Stello DAC and says it held its own against the $9800 Zanden Model IV DAC. www.soundstage.com

Jon L · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 07:13 pm »

Quote from: earlmarc

Doug Schneider from Soundstage raves about the $1195 Stello DAC and says it held its own against the $9800 Zanden Model IV DAC. www.soundstage.com

I read that too. I will happen to be in Korea this fall and maybe I will swing by Aprilsound and see what they have. Could be a bargain if I can pick something up on site if the transformer is easily switchable to 120V.

Hey, video/TV, cell phone world is already seeing great products from Korea, so why not Audio.

NealH · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Jun 2004, 11:35 pm »

I too read this review with interest. However, I have noticed over the years that Doug Schneider tends to be a shrill reviewer. In other words most of the items he reviews are very pumped up. He is very enthusiastic. I am in no way being, or meaning to be, critical. Just that one has to take these reviews with a grain of salt. I wish he put in just a bit more objectivity, or comparativity, in his reviews.

Nevertheless, I am sure this will be a good dac and I would love to hear one since I am in the market for a dac.

manek · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Jun 2004, 11:27 am »

There is another korean company BTW which makes very good audio cables called Audioplus. Too bad their website is only in Korean. i have the opportunity to audition these products and I would say they are pretty decent on pruce and performance.

Bails · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jun 2004, 11:18 pm »

I currently live in South Korea and have had a look at the Stello dac. It is a good unit which sells locally for the equivalent of US$850-900.

I listened to it but eventually went for the Bel Canto DAC2. The main reason was that I did that was that I didn't really like the look of the Stello (how shallow!). Stello components have a plasticky white front that I don't really like.

However, it is a good sounding unit and if you can pick one up in Korea it's a real bargain!

earlmarc · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Jun 2004, 07:27 pm »

I spoke with the distributer of the Stello products who is also a distributer for Zanden products. (How fitting since Soundstage compared the Stello DAC to the Zanden MKIV). He felt that the Soundstage review was pretty accurate in its assessment of the comparison. He stated that the price of the unit is $1195 but that the price will go up. He also stated that the strentgh of Stello products are their musicality and that the DAC in his opinion is not the star of their products, the amp is. He is currently sold out of all Stello products and expects to have more in about 3 weeks.

Guan · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Jun 2004, 03:40 am »

After reading the sparkling review on Soundstage, I auditioned the Stello DA220 DAC and matching transport at a dealer over the weekend. The dealer was confident enough to use the Stello combo in their main reference system consisting of Rockport Mira speakers, Tenor 150HPS stereo amp, Herron Audio VTSP2 linestage and Tara Labs 'The One' cabling. The Stello certainly looked quite bland and midfi-ish sitting next to a beautiful Clearaudio Master Reference TT on one side and a giant Rockport Sirius III on the other. No, we didn't do an A/B with the Stello against the Clearaudio or Rockport

The sound of the Stello front end through this system was clearly of a high standard. It was fast, detailed, coherent and dynamic. The system had a mid-hall balance and the Stello appears to have an even frequency response -no one frequency band seemed to overwhelm the other. The new Audio Physic test cd demo-ing mainly new age percussion and wind instruments sounded impressively tight, with good dynamic contrasts and a natural, unfatiguing sound. Soundstage width was also good.

Negatives?

Well, I noticed that the system was a little dark sounding and I heard some mild plasticky coloration (my pet peeve with Dynaudio drivers) in the upper bass. I have heard this 'sound' even on the big Rockport Hyperions. But my main concern was that female vocals seem to lack some body and density. This detracted a little from the palpability and live aspect of the sound. I don't know if this is the characteric of the Stello combo or something else in the system but I guess the only way to be sure is to get a home demo.

All in all, the Stello provided an impressive performance for the money