Yep, they do and it is amazing. I am targeting it. I have the Edge W stereo power amp but want to sell it and get the Edge A just because I don’t like running DAC-direct as much as having a preamp/integrated
I see it was the integrated Product of the Year 2020 on ear.net, one of the few review sources I consider has any credibility (because it is independent).
Best Hi-Fi Components of 2020 | The Ear
Perhaps it is illustrative of the big culture difference between UK/EU and USA that a serious 50th Anniversary product from a leading manufacturer, way above its normal price-point has 100w RMS power rating. No one would discount it for lack of power.
@jamesh - I decided to start with the Sprout100 as a baseline. Can you compare the Sprout with the Strata in terms of SQ?
For some background/context, I grew up with Phase Linear, Carver separates, JBL studio monitors, etc. (even using separates for the early 5.1 setup). Then for the last couple of decades went for convenience and more integrated AV.
Getting back into stereo music listening, I restarted using my 10 year old Denon AVR w/125wpc into a pair of Mirage Omnisat floor standing speakers. With hires audio, I was quite impressed with the depth and mids - but realizing the DAC in the Denon left a lot to be desired in terms of soundstage, clarity, etc etc etc…
As my Sprout100 is breaking in, it’s already apparent the highs are clearer, sound stage is wider and deeper but the one thing I’m missing is the depth of the mids and lower mids (vocals, cellos). I’m thinking the Sprout100 is tuned based on it’s power output and as such don’t emphasize/drive the mids and lower mids as well as the Denon AVR does. Is the Strata better in this regard?
Would be great if someone did an SQ comparison between the Sprout100 and Strata. I realize not many cross shop the two but there may be many who may want to upgrade from a Sprout100.
thanks.
Great question Kayak and I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the Sprout thus far. What the Sprout gets right, the Strata improves on. Through the whole frequency band, the Strata does a better job and is more balanced in my opinion. The Sprout was designed with the idea that a certain design/caliber of speakers were going to be hooked up to it (mainly bookshelf). Clear highs, good bass, but miss the mark a little with the rich mids. Strata does a much better job through the frequency band. A remarkably musical integrated that does well with all the genres I feed it.
Where you’ll really notice the Strata stand out from the Sprout is its ability to reproduce a well defined performance space and the subtle textures that go along with that. It’s not for lack of clarity with the Sprout, but instead the Strata seems like it’s able to extract more info from the recording. I always tell people the Sprout is a really good tease into that audiophile sound, but with the Strata, you’re fully engulfed in it.
Thanks - you’ve described what I would expect of the Strata as a step up from the Sprout100. As I’m on day 2 of almost continuous listening of the Sprout during almost every waking hour, I am certainly more impressed as the hours go by. It’s really opening up (breadth and depth) and deepening (and smoothening) the mids a little.
Is the SQ difference you’re describing caused by the amp in the Sprout? or is it the “pre-amp” ?
Here’s a suggestion for another member of the Sprout family - in the same size case, put a Bridge 2 with a HDMI out to send a video signal out and a high quality USB digital out to connect to the Sprout100 (or two any other Stellar pre-amp).
I’ve never heard the strata but I would go with the M10. I use one for my office system and it’s been great. I use it to power to Revel Ultima Gem 2 speakers and it sounds great. The M10 runs BluOS, which not only gives you full Roon connectivity but it supports a bunch other services. WiFi works great and the best feature of all is that it has Dirac Live. I went from having separates in my office to this all in one unit and I have no regrets.
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