September 2, 2009

Giant Killer On The Digital Front? Stello CDt 100 & DA 100 Signature.

Stello is the high end brand for April Music, manufactured in South Korea. Note, that red display can be dim able or completely switched off.

We've often been accused of being high end chasing audiophiles! There are reasons for this happening, and I do agree that we do not "feature" enough reviews on the affordable end of hifi dome! Here are three reasons to ponder over:

1) Most of the time, as accommodating as we are, we've not found many affordable hifi gear that we could live with, even after extensive tweaking and major effort to get it to sound satisfactory to our usual standards, which are not impossibly high but nevertheless, we do have a certain minimum level of acceptance, in regards to sound quality. If we can't live with the equipment, why write about it?

2) We also feel there are many other hifi rags and internet based resources catering to this affordable segment of the hifi market. So no point adding another voice to an already crowded party.

3) We've spoken to many hifi and AV related specialist retailers, and all agree that the price list of RM$10K and above per piece of equipment is where most of the market action is!

So when unker Edwin of Rave Systems asked us to review this Stello pair, we'd hesitated for a little while. No point bringing something home, set it up and try to get it to sound the best possible for the next 2-3 weeks only to find that it doesn't live up to our minimum sound quality standards, then have to be returned to the dealer and have to tell them that there's to be no review because it's not good enough for us! We've done it before, and it's not something we'd like to do, believe me.

However, unker Edwin was very convinced that he had a pair of winner on his hands and insisted that we do find out for ourselves. I must now say that we're indeed a little prejudiced about this Stello pair.

The truth is, this Stello pair is a digital giant killer indeed! If today, you're a music lover planning to spend up to RM$15K on a digital front end, you'd really be an audiophool not to have included this Stello pair in your audition list. It's that good!

The very simple insides of the Stello CDt 100.

So now that I've let the cat out of the bag, just how good is the Stello CDt 100 & DA 100 Signature? Lets start with some first impressions. The CDt 100 is a rather sturdily, if not exquisitely built top loader, i.e. you have to remove the square rice cooker like lid on top, pull the magnetic puck out, put the CD you intend to listen on to the exposed transport, reverse the process, press the disc button so that the CD's TOC could be read and ready to play. Just as the DA100 Signature's build quality is as sturdy and not "over the top" built like the many times more expensive Esoterics. Everything is form follows function with good quality in mind, like the Neutrik XLR output connectors(which I used) and Cardas style RCA output plugs(I didn't try). On the inside, an over sized power supply, high quality WIMA poly caps and 1% metal film resistors are used with neatly laid out gold traced PCB board. The Stello DA 100 Signature runs pretty hot as it outputs in push/pull Class A for the best possible sound. Make sure you do not stack anything above the Stello DA 100 Signature.

Stello DA 100 Signature is undoubtedly the star of the pair, noted the quality parts used and that over sized power supply.

The DA 100 comes with as many as 5 input connection options but I only had AES and I2S stlye cables, provided by unker Edwin to work with. Of the two, I clearly preferred the I2S option for sound quality. It gave benefits of lower audible noise floor, better transparency and transient response. Images were more holographic focused too. I also tried the various sampling and non sampling options available on the DA 100 Signature. I found the 24/192 up sampling option to give the most dynamic and focused sound, but I had settled in to the 24/96 sampling option which I thought did sacrificed some dynamics and focus, but did return plenty in terms of image density and imaged less forwardly. The non over sampling option did gave the smoothest and most organic sound of the three but I felt it was too laid back and a bit life less with rock/pop music. I decided to base my review entirely on the said I2S connection and 24/96 sampling option from here onwards.

The back panel of the duo. Note the I2S cable provided, which is the best connection option for high quality sound performance.

The immediate sonic description that comes to mind is robust. The Stello pair presents music in a very energetically robust manner. There's so much texture(not to be mistaken for graininess) in the music when replayed thru the Stello pair. The highs are not the most refined(I am comparing again to the Esoteric X-03, just to note) but always seemed a tad laid back, which is a good thing. The mids are actually the special part of this Stello pair. I felt even if the tonality is slightly mid centric, it's indeed a good thing, as most musical content falls in this frequency spectrum. It may just be a small bump on the presence region of 1kHz or so, but when done right like the LS3/5A BBC mini monitors, it just gives music a sense of humanity. It is this trait that so many have fallen in love with the said BBC mini monitors and if you like that in your hifi, you'll undoubtedly like this Stello pair too. The bass is pretty tuneful yet is solidly analog like. Did you notice how most digital players have bass that are just a little hollow?, meaning they have the bass structure, but the bass is all outlines and very little fillings. In fact a recent and rather surprised visitor commented the sound of the Stello pair reminded him very much of an analog rig that he had used. How's that for digital compliments?

The Stello pair may not be the most transparent and may not have the most extension at both ends of the frequency extremes, again comparing to my recent reference player mentioned above. But I think you'd be too engrossed over it's musical sound presentation to notice.

The staging and imaging presentation aspect is very similar to my own Marantz CD7. Just right, neither laid back nor forward. I would think that this Stello pair just begs to be compared with the Sony XA 5400 ES SACD/CD player, which is similarly priced. Though I would rate both to be on equal terms subjective listening performance wise, there are some difference in their overall sonic direction. Now, I am just working with memory here, and you may look back in to my previous review of the Sony player for the full sonic picture. I found the Sony to give an overall smoother, more refined, and subjectively lush sound. But the Sony can also sound a little smaller in scale compared to the Stello pair here. The Stello's mids are very special compared to the more tonally neutral if well balanced Sony. The Sony's staging and imaging is rather slightly more laid back too. Overall, the Sony gives a smooth, lush and laid back sound, whilst the Stello pair presents music in a very energetically robust, textured and humane fashion. I did however, found both players to be about equal in terms of transparency, frequency extremes extension, dynamics and transient response. I can only say that if you want more hifi attributes, the Sony is the one to go for. However, if you prefer the musical expression of the most humane kind, then the Stello CDt 100 & DA 100 Signature is your kinda beast.

But since the Sony is not available in the local market, you'd only have the Stello to go with, unless, you're like my good friend PS, whom goes all the way(and trouble some) with the private import route. If you want local dealer services and warranty with your purchase, at this level there's only one practical and logical domestic shopping choice that I know of, which is the Stello CDt 100 & DA 100 Signature pair.

At what price the Stello CDt 100 & DA 100 Signature retails for you ask? It's priced at RM$3.3K each. Meaning if you buy them as a pair, CD transport & DAC, at RM$6.6K, are about the best value out there in high end audio performance to dollar ratio. In fact, they're so musically good(if not technical hifi attributes good), the Stello pair can musically out do a few CD players costing up to RM$15K or so that I know off.

The Stello pair looking very hand some on my top shelf. Those top panel air gaps on the DA 100 Signature are necessary for Class A output heat dissipation!

Also at the retail price listed, the Stello DA 100 Signature, with it's USB input option is quite a potential candidate for anyone wishing to hot rod or super charge their downloaded music with computer to their hifi system, which is getting popular these days. However, being someone from the industrial age, I do not have any resources to test that option. And lastly, did you know the Stello DA 100 Signature was designed with famed audio guru, Mark Levinson's input?

For the silly money of an retail price, what more could one possibly ask for?

Stello by April Music is sold by Rave Systems, contact Edwin, tel: 03-21632818

17 comments:

The Wise One said...

Hey Big E,

Would appreciate if you tell us what CDs you used for evaluation. It will then paint a picture of what we can expect. Cheers!

junchoon2989 said...

hi Big E,

was rather surprised that u actually review "budget" equipments besides the sony! :) i will be interested to hear how it stacks up to sony too.

cheers,
wps

Big E said...

The Wise One,

Your name very powderfull!

As usuall I used my current playing list to evaluate the Stello pair. The play list includes:

1)Jenifer Warnes, The Well.
2)Liew Ya Li, Alice Lau 2 Mandarin Songs.
3)Erich Kunzel & The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Round Up.
4)Teddy Robbins, Teddy Goes To The Movies.
5)Toscho, Back By Popular Demand.

Quite a mix isn't it?

junchoon2989,

And why not? It's just that we haven't found the right budget stuff to write about. But I'll personally make a commitment to try and write at least one budget equipment a month!

The Wise One said...

Big E,

The "powderful" name just popped out when I signed up! Honestly, it just came like that - and I really felt very awkward and embarassed to be linked to it whenever I signed in to all the various forums using this email address. Looks like I have to live with it, heh heh!

From what I see in your CD list, you are just reviewing on the analytical side. Shouldn't you also include such songs like Rickie Lee Jones/Chuck E's In Love or Simon & Garfunkel/Sound Of Silence (for pop), Madonna/La Isla Bonita or Alphaville/Big In Japan (for dance) and Queen/Bohemian Rhapsody or Van Halen/Jump (for rock) - or for that matter, any songs that fall into the categories of these 3 different genres - on all you equipment evaluations so that we can have an idea if such equipment are also adept to such music?

junchoon2989 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
junchoon2989 said...

TWO,

good call! i can bring my purple rain shm-cd and see how the stello perform in this genre. :)

btw, in terms of music, jennifer warnes' the well has one of the best tracks i have heard so far. my favorite album, introduced by Big E and M Lau.

too bad Eric Kunzel passed away so suddenly. :(

wps

Big E said...

The Wise One,

I know you wanna rock, I like rock too. But now a days listening to more sedated music lah.

For me at least, music is music, I am genre blind, but I can agree those listed by me are rather audiophile based.

Any new music to recomend? Since you're in the busisness.

mikelau.2 said...

wps,

I suspect your The Well sacd(xrcd ?) has higher resolution ? I am as keen to test it out at your place. Any convenient time this week ? Or you can come to my place.

The Wise One said...

WPS,

Wah, when did you moved into SHMCD territory? Sound is definitely much better than normal cds but pretty expensive. What other titles do you have in SHMCD? Are they available in places other than Japan?

Big E,

I'm still a rocker but I'm looking for equipment that can be quite an all rounder - that's the reason why I suggested a multi genre test out. I'll be importing some HQCD (equivalent to SHMCD) discs to test out the market. Maybe you can do a comparison with the normal cd and give us your views.

mikelau.2 said...

TWO,

Please let me know when your HQCD arrives. Any idea when ?

cheers,
mike

Big E said...

The Wise One,

I am looking forward to test your HQCD vs normal pressings. Just let me have the sample of 2 same albums of diferent pressings on loan. He!He!

Tell me when you're ready.

junchoon2989 said...

Mike,

family commitment, have not touched hifi for nearly a week. was suppose to kacau/visit Big E, but no time lah! not free for visit until after 7th sept. the version of "The Well" i have is hybrid sacd, no xrcd that i know of.

TWO,

i only have two shm-cds, both by prince: purple rain and sign o the times. as per my reply to mike, they are still in shrinkwraps and still virgin!!! from what i know, only in japan lah shm-cd popular. hmv japan were having 10% rebate plus 20% discount, cannot resist even if the yen price so high! :)

cheers,
wps

The Wise One said...

Big E,

Sure, no problem, will pass to you once I get it. In fact, I think I have copies of Led Zep III in both SHMCD and the Japanese vinyl replica versions. Can bring to your house for evaluation.

WPS,

Ah, a Prince fan eh? Wah, so damn good offer and you only bought 2 miserable SHMCDs??!!! You never get such generous offers from Japanese record stores, especially on new products. The best I could find was a lucky 10% discount on HMV's anniversary sale once, after so many forays into Japanese territory!

junchoon2989 said...

TWO,

there are ten SHM-CDs of Prince. the discount (actually 23%) was on selected titles lah. the rebate is across the board, though. the shipping is reasonable, trackable, no japan sales tax (if item list price 100yen, then can get it about 95yen). so far (knocking the wood hard on this) i have not been taxed by custom with hmv japan purchases. but the yen exchange rate is high now, have to be selective lah.

cheers,
wps

junchoon2989 said...

Big E,

wonder how the stello da100 sounds when combined with sony scd-xa5400es? best of both worlds (humane + hifi)?? :)

cheers,
wps

Big E said...

WPS,

Sony + Stello DA100 Sig = sonic nirvana?

I am afraid it does not work like that! Remember, you'll need an I2S connection equipped CD transport to fully exploit the Stello DA100 Sig.

Not many CD transport has that I2S connection option, unless the Sony has it?

junchoon2989 said...

oops, the sony tak ada i2s lah - it can only output via toslink, coaxial, HDMI, RCA and Balanced XLR. of course the toslink and coaxial cannot output SACD loh, unless modded.

if u r free this sunday and stello still with u, shall we meet up?

have u tried connecting yr Marantz CD7 to the stello??

cheers,
wps