Yes, but will have to swap back and verify, since I am “comparing” to Sprout100 from memory…
Netgear JGS516 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002CWPOK/)
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I would experiment with Sprout to get a reference and then do a couple things on the Strata.
(1) Uplug the ethernet stuff and turn on Wifi and stream over PS Connect
(2) Plug ethernet in, turn wifi off (confirm its off via the network screen and that the WiFi IP reads 0.0.0.0) then stream.
If (1) sounds significantly better than (2) then you are adding noise in from your network gear.
One other user complained of “no bass” and when he switched to Wifi and disconnected Ethernet, the bass came back. I don’t want to generalize but the comparison above will give us a benchmark to start from.
@cxp - thanks for the WiFi suggestion. Will try that later.
Couple other observations (non-SQ related) compared to Sprout100:
- The Sprout100 remote control looks and feels much more premium. Very odd, taking into account price difference… On the same note, I have the P12 whose remote control also feels very cheap.
@jamesh - please bring to product management’s attention. No reason for a $699 product to have a much nicer remote control than $3k or $5k products!!! And while at it - now that I have 3 remote controls from PS Audio, would be nice to have a single “universal” nice remote control for all of them. Just an idea… - Where is the sub-woofer out???
I do have a powered sub (not been used recently), that I did try in the past with the Sprout100 (no, @cxp - I am not comparing bass of Sprout100 with the sub) and when I felt like I need more bass - I was going to plug it to the Strata only to discover the Strata does not have a sub out?!?!
Assuming I have not gone blind and totally miss something, is there a “work around” to connect a powered sub to the Strata? @jamesh - any reason to drop a sub out??
Use high level connection to main speaker posts for a powered sub. Alternatively, I think you can use one of the the preamp-out RCAs.
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I would compare +/- sub if you can. A sub shouldn’t be used to bandaid bigger issues. Get the mids and midbass good so the main speakers transition well. If you do have a network noise issue, the sub won’t fix it by itself.
You have multiple options; you can run rcas from the analog out to the sub. You have to use both R/L outputs. This is assuming the sub has LP filtering built in.
Or use speaker level from the amp like @yann.pigeaire suggested.
An update after Strata has been running 6-7 hours straight.
- Congested and muffled mids - I THINK it sounds better now. Will spend more time with it tomorrow before stating with confidence it is better.
(I am still hoping someone from the beta testers would respond with regards to burn-in time from their experience) - Anemic Bass - no improvement to speak of (after 6-7 hours of non-stop playback)
- WiFi vs. 1GbE - is there a way to type in WiFi password?? Did not see a way to do it on the Android app (and my password is pretty damn long…
)
What does that mean?? Are you suggesting some sort of splitters from speaker out of the Strata?
I believe my sub have LP filtering built in. How do use use both R/L outputs into single RCA (into sub)? Is there an adapter or Y cable you recommend for that? I still do not understand why PS Audio decided to remove sub out… Maybe James can clarify that decision. I understand that is not the solution for anemic bass, especially since my speakers are capable of decent bass.
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IcePower based amps take hundreds of hours to fully break in and need to be left powered up 24/7.
Can you shoot us the pic of the hookups on your sub.
Like @dawkinsj said they do break in, but in my experience they sound pretty good out of the box. Its more like they smooth out over time and become progressively more musical. However, they don’t magically go from no bass to tons of bass during break in. There should be plenty of bass out of the box and thats why i’m suspicious of your network gear. Do you have another source outside of Ethernet? Toslink for TV or a transport to compare? If you do compare other sources, do compare with Ethernet plugged in vs. unplugged.
Unfortunately, my “man cave” doubles as my son’s bedroom (when he’s over at my place), so Strata is off for the night…
I have the discontinued “ELAC S10EQ Debut Series 400 Watt Powered Subwoofer by Andrew Jones”.
See: https://elac-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2015/11/S10EQ_ELAC_Single-Sheet.pdf
Understood. Tomorrow, I will go through the pain of getting the long WiFi password entered. I really wish the Android app would support that (although won’t be soon enough for me…)
I can connect to my music server (NUC running JRiver MC26) through USB, or to the analog out of my DAC (Lampizator Amber 3). Will try those 2 with Ethernet disconnected (before bothering with WiFi). Should be faster and easier to test 
For Y cable if you go that route.
Here
https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/subwoofer/index.htm
You will find Y cables at bottom of page. They make specific RCA for subwoofer as well if you’re interested. Great company with reasonable prices.
@zachif
Looks like RCA is your only way and the sub filters via smartphone app.
Straight out of the box the most prominent feature of any IcePower based device should be the bass and somewhat overblown. It’s the rest of the spectrum that smooths out with hours and being continuously powered up.
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Then I guess I am doing it wrong… 
Hopefully it is the Ethernet cable or switch!
I am familiar with BJC - bought from them speaker cables and Ethernet cables in the past.
In fact, I will try a CAT6 ethernet cable from BJC tomorrow! See if THAT makes a difference. Unfortunately, I do not have 2 BJC ethernet cables, so can plug it to NAS or to Strata, but not both (I can easily order another cable, but would take several days to get here…)
As for the Y cables from BJC - they offer 2 variants:
“… We offer two different adapters to split the signal from a single output to more than one sub input; the most often-used type is our short Y cable, with one female end and two male ends, made for us by AVLink. … Alternatively, we also carry a small plastic hardshell adapter with one male and two female connections; this is useful if you’re daisy-chaining subs together or jumpering from one sub input to another…”
→ Neither of those 2 variants seems to be the right one for me. I need a Y cable that has 2 male connectors for R/L RCA pre-amp out from Strata, into a single male that plugs to the sub. Not just shorting those R/L but somehow summing (?) them.
I know I am repeating myself, but still cannot figure out why PS Audio would remove this sub out RCA 
I believe you can use the 1F/2M Y cable. You can shoot an email or call BJC to confirm.
Plug the 2M side into the Strata analog out, then take your current cable and plug into the 1F and run to sub.
Is your current network switch plugged into the same AC outlet as your Strata? How is the power situation? Every time I’ve plugged a switch into the same conditioner/regenerator as my audio gear I’ve gotten worse sound. Based on how bad you describe the sound, I don’t think the Cat cable is the biggest problem.
Will contact BJC to confirm! Thanks for the suggestion.
Both Strata and switch are plugged into the same “power strip”. I can plug the strata to a different outlet
- either the 2nd outlet from the same “duo” (no idea if that makes ANY difference)
- or with a longer cable - to a totally different outlet (assuming my longest cable which is 2m / 6.6ft is long enough…)
Let’s have @jamesh chime in when he has a chance. Y splitter from analog outputs on Strata to single RCA input on sub? There isn’t any weird impedance or electrical issue is there?
@zachif
It will be interesting for you to test WiFi tomorrow. When you do that, unplug the Ethernet switch.
Can you move Strata to wall and then play with where the switch is plugged in? I’m thinking get the switch to that totally other wall outlet if you can.
Power strips are pretty bad and ironically my switch didn’t like being in a power strip and sound improved when I moved to wall.
Well remember that Sprout has a bass boost built in to it and Strata does not. So, if you’re mentally comparing the two Strata will likely have far less bass. In a comparison you will want to turn off Sprout’s bass boost which you can do by holding in the volume control which is actually a switch when pressed. Sprout’s LED changes color.
Sprout has that boost to give smaller bookshelf speakers some bottom kick. Strata is a step up in many ways, but it’s also a device that’s going to require some setup and perhaps even a subwoofer if you’re planning on sticking with the bookshelf speakers. Also, speakers setup for Sprout should be repositioned to work with Strata.
It’s not just a drop in replacement. You’ll need to start fresh with Strata as if it just came in through the door and you never had Sprout.
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Definitely do not use a Y connector to then combine left and right into a single mono input if I am understanding correctly. This tries to sum the two channels together and Strata won’t like that.
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As Paul states, not a good idea. Use just one output. I suggest the right side because in pop/rock music the bass is usually centered, and is typically on the right for classical.
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Meaning, the instruments that produce the music in the lower registers are generally positioned Stage Left and, ideally, captured to reflect same on recordings…correct…?
My Strata sounded great right out of the box, no anemic bass what so ever. I am also using just monitors (Vienna Acoustics). Streaming via WiFi. Just yesterday a put on an ambient playlist (Qobuz via Audirvana) and left the room for a few hours. Passing through later in the day, I had to stop and listen. Amazing sound across the spectrum, unexpectedly good imaging and no need for a sub. It amazes me how the small and simple system can really work well in such a big space.
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