# Stellar Strata Amplifier? **URL:** \ **Category:** Integrateds\ **Created:** [April 18, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424 "2019-04-18T20:32:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stonefree1911](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/stonefree1911/32/92419_2.png) [@stonefree1911](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/stonefree1911)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/43 "2019-11-20T15:55:12Z")
Does this have a SGCD DAC or is it proprietary to the Strata? ---
**Author:** ![jamesh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jamesh/32/3871_2.png) [@jamesh](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jamesh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/44 "2019-11-20T17:31:27Z")
We’re using the ES9016 inside Strata. ---
**Author:** ![stonefree1911](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/stonefree1911/32/92419_2.png) [@stonefree1911](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/stonefree1911)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/45 "2019-11-20T17:40:51Z")
Which ESS is in the SGCD? ---
**Author:** ![jamesh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jamesh/32/3871_2.png) [@jamesh](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jamesh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/46 "2019-11-20T17:41:27Z")
9010 ---
**Author:** ![dancingsea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dancingsea](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dancingsea)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/47 "2019-11-20T18:08:24Z")
How does it compare to the SGCD? ---
**Author:** ![jamesh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jamesh/32/3871_2.png) [@jamesh](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jamesh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/48 "2019-11-20T18:25:45Z")
9016 is the “better” chip, but both have their merits. It’s more important how you integrate them within the input and output stage. ---
**Author:** ![stonefree1911](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/stonefree1911/32/92419_2.png) [@stonefree1911](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/stonefree1911)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/49 "2019-11-20T18:32:05Z")
Huh. I won’t lie, as a new SGCD owner that’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I guess we just have to wait and see how the Strata turns out. I can see people having a tough decision between the Strata and a SGCD/S-300 combo… ---
**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/50 "2019-11-20T18:51:29Z")
There is always something newer and better. The SGCD is a great piece of kit and will remain so, no matter what else is available latter. ---
**Author:** ![stonefree1911](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/stonefree1911/32/92419_2.png) [@stonefree1911](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/stonefree1911)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/51 "2019-11-20T18:55:39Z")
Yeah, I’m not complaining. My SGCD sounds great. I just think it will be interesting to see the comparisons between the features of the Strata compared to those of a SGCD/S-300 combo. Esp for people with efficient speakers that don’t need a ton of power. ---
**Author:** ![kzk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@kzk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kzk)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/52 "2019-11-20T22:43:59Z")
Is Strata a class D amplifier? Or class A/B? Guessing D by chassis size ---
**Author:** ![jamesh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jamesh/32/3871_2.png) [@jamesh](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jamesh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/53 "2019-11-20T23:18:17Z")
Your’re right, it’s class D. ---
**Author:** ![kzk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@kzk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kzk)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/54 "2019-11-21T04:51:54Z")
Will streamer dac of strata have full mqa support? Sorry if this is or should be obvious to psa vets but I’m not very familiar with their other dacs ---
**Author:** ![dancingsea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dancingsea](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dancingsea)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/55 "2019-11-21T05:29:57Z")
Is the Strata essentially a SGCD + S300 + streamer, all in one? Have you guys directly compared it to the SGCD/S300 combination? I’m guessing yes. Is the sound similar? ---
**Author:** ![Paul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul/32/6_2.png) [@Paul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Paul)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/56 "2019-11-21T12:13:57Z")
It’s the same Sabre DAC used in the SGCD but with a newer output stage. ---
**Author:** ![kzk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@kzk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kzk)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/57 "2019-11-21T12:18:05Z")
I am in the market for a one box or two box (not three box) solution that gives me power and streaming. Budget is $2.5-4K. This will be for second system. Third system now uses Bluesound Powernode 2 which is one box system that does same, and I’ll keep it with system 3 but looking for better performance for system 2. No huge preference of one box or two for me, either ok. Current leader in clubhouse is Rega Elex R and Cambridge 851n combo for about $3.2k. I’d be interested in Benchmark if they made an integrated and their dacs don’t include streamers (so that’s be min 3 box, doesn’t work for me). Also looking at Mytek two box solution but that pushes over budget. So this strata could be interesting, as heretofore PSA options would all have been at least 3 box as well (using third party streamer like node 2i for example). ---
**Author:** ![Paul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul/32/6_2.png) [@Paul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Paul)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/58 "2019-11-21T12:20:31Z")
It is the same DAC as the SGCD but we’ve made some tweaks to the output stage to match the internal amp. We always treat every product we design as a whole, meaning we focus by ear to maximize the synergy of everything inside the unit for the best final outcome possible. Which is why Strata sounds so damned good as an entity. Just add a great pair of speakers and you’re off to the races. ---
**Author:** ![kzk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@kzk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kzk)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/59 "2019-11-21T12:40:26Z")
And previously mentioned NAD M10 and Naim Uniti are other contenders, plus maybe bel canto e.one streamer and integrated, or others. Competitive landscape will be interesting to see how strata stacks up. ---
**Author:** ![Paul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul/32/6_2.png) [@Paul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Paul)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/60 "2019-11-21T12:50:15Z")
The Strata does not have MQA support, no. ---
**Author:** ![Paul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul/32/6_2.png) [@Paul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Paul)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/61 "2019-11-21T12:54:21Z")
It is a modified SGCD (modified to be synergistic as a unit), with a new 200 watt per channel power amplifier and streamer. It’s its own device in terms of the way it sounds, which is really, really good. The Stellar combo of separates will depend on what the interconnects are and the power cables and AC arrangement you have, so it’s almost impossible to give a direct comparison. The advantage of Strata is that is all figured out for you. Everything is internally wired and the whole is made synergistic from input to output as a unit. ---
**Author:** ![mp5310](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mp5310/32/92067_2.png) [@mp5310](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mp5310)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424/62 "2019-11-21T15:23:29Z")
Having the same modified SGCD minus the amp section would be a great component for those who like their present power amp(s). Sorry to beat this to death, but my last integrated ended up being used as a dac/preamp/streamer because I wasn’t fond of the amplifier section. Switched to the SGCD and WOW. I’ll get the Strata because your gear sounds great and it will do what I want it to do. Now I’ll have a SGCD and power amp to sell/trade. [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/stellar-strata-amplifier/10424.md?page=4)