Got mine today. Wasn’t expecting it till tomorrow!
At the moment I’m feeding it from my DSD by balanced connections.
It definitely had a family resemblance to the BHK amp and pre amp, just less detailed and a smaller soundstage, but very listenable.
I got the streaming to work with Qobuz. JRiver didn’t see the Strata, but Audirvana did (and nether did Roon ) but we knew that going in.
Got some problems though.
Anything that streams over input 9, the bridge, is broken
There is barely any output from the left channel. Does not matter if by WIFI or Ethernet, Qobuz or Audirvana, bad channel imbalance. Tried resetting the bridge, but all that did was make the ps light do a series of 2 quick flashes, pause 2 more. That never stopped until I cycled main power.
Analog inputs 2 & 3 are very low on volume and distorted. This is from the output from my CIA phono stage which works fine with the BHK preamp. Put a cable on my phone and tried it as an alternate source. Had to crank out way up also, but didn’t sound distorted.
No phase or balance control on the analog inputs? Was that on purpose, or is mine broken?
Yep, pretty sure the inertial DAC is the issue. Connected the optical cable to the tv and the sound is all to the right with very little sound from the left channel.
Also, thank you for bringing to my attention how terrible my Marantz CD6004 onboard DAC is. CDs sound awful compared to the Strata DAC streaming on Qobuz. My newly ordered digital COAX cable can’t get here quick enough! Why did I suffer all these years?!?!?!
I too am finding the input levels on the Strata analogue inputs to be too low compared with the digital inputs…about 18 dB difference with my CI phono stage!
The Strata manual states that the remote handset controls balance with the left/right buttons. Nothing happens on my unit…anyone else having this problem?
Ah ha!
I was looking at the volume trims. On input 9 I could only turn it down.
Didn’t occur to me to look at the other inputs. On analog 2 where I have my Channel Islands phono stage plugged in, the volume trim can be adjusted up or down!
I cranked it to the Max 10 db and it’s more in line with the other input volumes now.
Yay!
I received my unit yesterday so these are just the initial observations on setup and functions. I had no issues setting up a wireless connection like others have mentioned. I was certainly surprised when I discovered that the only way to stream was via an android phone. Hopefully the Apple app will be ready soon. I do think that the Owners Manual needs some attention. In addition to all of the typos there are some menu items that are missing-Reset BRG, IR Status, and Forget Net. Being relatively new to PS Audio I have no idea what Reset BRG would do. I would also like the ability to custom name inputs vice just being provided a dropdown list. For example, I have a trusty Squeezebox that does not appear in the naming options. Operationally, I have only had one issue…I was wireless streaming Qobuz and kept getting random volume readjustments. Whether using the remote or the volume knob, up or down, the unit would change volume on its own. If I raised volume the unit would lower it by 4-7 and if I lowered volume it would raise it by 3-5. This only happens on input 9. This morning I decided to power down the unit and restart it. That seems to have resolved the issue for now.
I find it odd the other way. I am an old audiophile (older then Paul…imagine) and I needed a balance control all the time with records (LPs discs). Each record had to be adjusted because cutter heads were not dead on.
Now I only want to balance once when I do a setup with new equipment.
) but we knew that going in.
