Welcome!
Thank you for the detailed comments.
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Watch the switch and power supply!
What is your network composed of?
iTunes does not normally communicate with outside devices so yes, youād need the USB cable. I will caution you though. If that is your intent to use iTunes, be sure you also install Bit Perfect on the computer. This will get you much better sound using iTunes.
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Others have mentioned the fact that there is audible volume when the Strata is at the 0 volume setting. I also have that issue but noticed something else. When streaming music thru input 9 (Bridge) and turning the volume to 0 I get a ādigital burbling/skippingā sound. When I turn the volume back up it takes a second or two for the sound to return to normal. Even though I have audible sound from other inputs (phono, CD, USB, Squeezebox), I do not hear that same weird sound at the 0 volume setting.
Thanks, Paul.
Best,
Jim
5/12/ Update: The weekend got away from me with projects, I didnāt spend much time with the Stellar. I forgot to add from the beginning that I was initially thinking of the PS Audio S300 amp in conjunction with a streaming preamp or streaming cd player. The strata solution seemed like the better alternative and showed up at the right time.
- 14 hours music, 7 days on idle power.
- ?Will an Ayre cd clarifier burn in disk harm the Strata?.
- Wireless streaming drops out/disconnects about twice per day but I do not have playback gaps. When this happens, it takes about 10 minutes to ācool offā and then I can connect again (my network in hardwired mode doesnāt have a time limit). Some times itās a few hours of streaming, sometimes itās 30 minutes. PS Audio Connect app worked a few times, Spotify App worked a few times.
- Streaming quality seems to have more air, not sure yet if itās lighter, to it than CD.
- It would be great to have a button on the remote give you the āinfoā of what the amp is currently set on, input / bit rate / phase, even if you have to press the same key two or three times to scroll through the information.
- Even with just idle power into the unit most of the time and limited music hours the Strata breaks in considerably after 3 or 4 days compared to fresh out of the box. My earlier questions regarding cables have me intrigued even more with the quality of music Iām currently getting from stock a/c cords and mid-tier interconnects and speaker cable.
- Using the PS Audio Connect app on my iPhone I donāt see the same menu options and ādaily mixā options as the Spotify app, PSA Connect seems more tied to the 3 saved playlists allowed in the app, less navigation friendly.
Hello everyone! The posts that youāve all been making are very informative and illuminating. Thanks to all. Iām learning a lot.
Iāll just pick up with where I left off with my last post.
Operation Guide
page 13- I do like the use of the button next to the display for selecting inputs. Thatās a lot of utility out of very few front panel controls.
Volume control- Iāve mentioned that the rotational feel of the knob could be improved. Compliments to the engineering group for designing a volume control that has no āzipper noiseā that I can detect. Thatās really great!
I was able to connect Strata to the appropriate WiFi network easily per the manual. I downloaded the PS Audio Connect app to my iPad and was able to play Qobuz right away. The manual, page 11, refers to the PS Audio Strata App. That should be changed to say the PS Audio Connect App. I spent time looking for a Strata app which doesnāt exist. James sent me the Connect App link.
On my iPad Pro, the connect app is only viewed in the portrait mode regardless of the orientation of the iPad. I use an attached keyboard so the tablet is always in the landscape mode. I really hope you add this flexibility to your app!
page 14- Sorry, Iām not a fan of the 2 volume controls on the remote. My perception is that this is a stock OEM remote and you couldnāt think of what to do with 2 unused buttons.
I like the Display Dim functionality and glad to read it works across the PS Audio product platform. Nice.
page 15- Balance control works well. Glad is uses small .25dB steps. The manual implies that āphaseā is the second selection. On my unit, filter is the second selection. On my system, the sonic differences between filters requires more than a casual listen to select. Iāll have to get back to this selection.
page 17- Renaming inputs really demonstrated the limitations of the minimalist approach to front panel buttons. I wish there was a quick way to return to the beginning of the process after you make a mistake. I finally got it but will have to pull out the manual next time. I think a step by step example in the manual may help eliminate so much trial and error for people like me.
I will go back to try the functions on page 18 and higher. The only one I obviously jumped ahead to was enabling WiFi. I wonder if the WiFi instructions should be moved page 11 or reference page 22 on page 11.
There is a typo on pg 21 and one on pg 22. If you canāt find them, let me know.
Preliminary Listening Impressions.
The system sound performance continues to improve with break in.
Overall, the sound is very pleasing. It is smooth and balanced. There are no obvious spectral problems whatsoever.
With all sources so far, I would like to hear more high frequency extension and dynamics. The low end is really good with a tendency to be a bit bloated on some material.
The system is revealing of differences between sources and media. After one session adjusting the speaker toe in, I was able to get a wide image with good localization in between the speakers. Iām hoping to improve the image depth by closing the window treatments over the window behind/between the speakers.
Now, please note, these are preliminary impressions. I have no idea how much the new speakers or Strata or room are contributing to each impression. Iāll try to get a better idea as I spend more time listening.
Also, Iām hoping to get the sub integrated into the system.
Thanks for listening. More to follow.
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Noted!
My internet is through CenturyLink. The only other device I have hooked up via ethernet is my Directv. There are various mobile devices connected to the WiFi.
@J_Scott Are you directly connected to the router?
Ethernet?
Yes the Strata is connected directly to the CenturyLink Modem/Router via ethernet cable.
@J_Scott
Ok, I guarantee the harshness and lack of bass is due to this. High frequency noise is generated by the cheap SMPS power supply and goes into the Strata. I heard this myself with my own router 3 years ago on the Ultrarendu and it kills the musicality and gives you hearing fatigue.
There is a an easy fix for thisā¦ depending on your budget youāre gonna need a switch. If you just want a quick and dirty solution get a Netgear GS105. If you want something better get a Cisco SG110D. The Cisco has a crappy power supply but will be the better option if are willing to get a linear power supply.
Iām not talking about little differences, this is MAJOR.
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I hope someone can answer the following pertaining to the PS Connect app: how do you enter a URL for an internet radio station not listed in TuneIn Radio? For example, Radio Paradise has 5 stream qualities: low, med, high, ultra and Flac. TuneIn Radio does not seem to provide those 5 streams. For the Radio Paradise stream it does provide, TuneIn does not state the stream quality. This issue applies to other internet radio stations. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Unless Iām missing something, Iām not entirely sure the connect app is able to stream internet radio like this. iHeart may be the only option. Iāve never seen anywhere in the app that you can enter a URL and start streaming radio from a local station for example.
Another example of detail retrieval: Daft Punk : Game of Love. The synth line is actually some sort of wind instrument! You can him (them?) taking a breath into it on a couple of occasions (like some kind of electronic oboe). Or it could be all sound effects. Either way, I never noticed that with my other amp.
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@jamesh: was putting away the packaging today. There is a packing list in there signed by some QA person I guess. It lists a PS Audio catalog, which was not there. I donāt need the catalog, and I surmise you left it out for beta, which is 100% fine. I donāt want to get anyone in trouble, Iām just highlighting it in case itās not deliberate: if there is a statement something is included and it is missing despite QA sign off, somewhere thatās not very six sigma.
@Paul
Did you tune the Strata for Goldenear (just kidding)? The Last time my Triton 3+s have sang like this was a $50k demo system in Phoenix.
Strata + SP3 = outrageously good
ā¦ I concur, and the way turning on the SP3 turns on the Strata is a nice touch.
Agreed. I am surprised by how much time people spend typing out issues that usually can be resolved in less time with a phone call to the kind folks at PS Audio.
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Crap. Paul, letās pack it up, they found us outā¦ 
Thanks C. Huge complement! Means a lot.
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Sitting here listening to Kronos quartet : pieces of Africa. Itās a great demo for Strataās ability to reproduce harmonic nuances and textures of similar acoustic instruments. There is violin, viola, cello, and half a dozen African strings like oud, kora, tar etc. Ditto for African drums.