Strata is in Alpha testing this month and will likely go into beta testing next month. Then, available in February.
M1200 is a month after in all respects.
Ok, thanks for update. I probably can’t wait that long for current need but perhaps for a future system …
Any updates on availability of the Stellar Strata? Also, you haven’t mentioned if it will have a headphone input? I had been looking at getting the Stellar Gain Cell / stereo amp combo, but came across this thread. The Strata seems like a better fit for me. I recently joined Qobuz but have to use a computer to input into my receiver since Onkyo doesn’t play the Qobuz app natively.
Strata is still on schedule for it’s February launch. It will certainly handle Qobuz natively without a problem.
Looking at the ethernet jack on the back of the Stellar Strata mock-up, I wonder if (a) the new apps will pull music files from a NAS and (b) what functionality a Stellar Octave would eventually have on top. DSD? Those are my questions. As background, I love my 2019 Stellar PP3+GCD+S300 stack, and have been using a Bluesound Node 2 as an interim device to send data to the SGCD via SPDIF, since I had heard that a Stellar Octave audio media player might come in 2020. Streaming is nice to have for casual listening or the news. But I have my own 1.5TB FLAC library, including some albums (mainly Jazz) in DSD. My thinking was that an eventual Stellar Octave would output to the SGCD via I2S. The alternative I am considering is to build my own unit with a Pink Faun PCIe I2S bridge and a 2TB SSD using Foobar. Note: WiFi is also not so much my thing; the house has CAT7 ethernet throughout, including in all bathrooms and the basement pantry. Though that was the builder’s madness, not mine.
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Jonnycomelately here. First I heard of the Stellar was an email from Scott. BUT…I have been shopping around for something exactly like this. I love the Sprout100 but lack of inputs keeps it in it’s place. This Strata, with digital AND analog inputs, plus wifi and 200WPC sonnds like what I have been looking for. I prefer outboard turntable preamps and that’s the only analog input I need at the moment. I can’t wait to give this a try. Replacing 5 pieces of gear with one will satisfy my minimalist tendencies while the 200WPC of PS Audio power will satisfy the Paradigms.
But a question. Will this have the gain cell volume control? Honestly it my old GCC100 had half these capabilities I’d still have it. Adding the gain cell to the Strata would be like the cherry on top of a big ol’ nanner split.
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@richamor
It does have the Gain Cell.
Good news there. Just doing my due diligence it seems much of the wifi streaming usefulness will depend, as so many other things do nowadays, on the app and the quality of that interface. Any chance of getting a peak at that?
Soon, yes. Probably need a few more weeks to get it finished. We’re using a beta version right now and it’s quite nice.
Will Amazon music be integrated into the streamer? I don’t see it on the specs, so I’m guessing no.
So far, no. We haven’t paid much attention to Amazon as Qobuz and Tidal seem plenty.
Except for those who have an Amazon subscription🙂. Is it something that can be added as a firmware update down the road if and when?
Can’t wait to hear how it differs from my SGC and Rotel RB-1080 combo.
Will the DAC software be upgradable? The inability to upgrade is a pretty big downside to these all-in-one units.
No. It is not a DirectStream. The DAC is a fixed chip-based DAC. There aren’t that many FPGA based DACs out there, and Strata is not one of them.
Does the Strata act as a Roon Endpoint? Apologies if I missed this on my somewhat quick scroll through all the post but I didn’t see any confirmation anywhere.
up a ways… (the replies don’t always make it easy to see context!)
How’s the beta testing going on this (since I wasn’t selected to test… 
)?
Unless Paul starts a public beta thread, please do not discuss beta testing.
ok. Didn’t know the rules.