Has anyone heard the new PS Audio Strata, Integrated Amp/DAC/streamer?

Yeah I think I’d prefer the Hegel amplification stage to the others (just a guess) but I wonder about the Hegel streaming interface???


That said, the PSA fans are diehard and I would love to hear some of their products. Unfortunately direct only now, no dealers in US any longer. Fun to follow some of their threads over there tho

If we are going to diverge on this thread about Purefi. I will add that Computer Audiophile has a great interview with the Purefi team. The thing that caught my eye was Bruno's quote that the goal of the company was too  to remove a zero from the price of an amp. If his amp were to compete against a $10K amp he wants to build it for $1K (just arbitrary numbers used by me).

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/purifi-audio-and-the-audiophile-style-readers-qa-with-lars-risbo-bruno-putzeys-r815/ 

I looked a the NAD M33 Purefi amp via the specs and was a disappointed it does so many things in 1 box. Not really the dragon slayer amp that Bruno was talking about in the interview. Though this is the first amp to have the new Purefi tech so I am still waiting on a Purifi amp only, something like the Mola Mola Kaluga amp.

audiotroy, 
Thanks for your suggestions.
The NAD 33 looked interesting, but it is quite a bit more expensive than I'm able to go at this time.
" The M33, a BluOS™ enabled DAC/amplifier that can serve as the heart of a reference whole-home system. In its simplest form, the M33 (US$4999/€4999/£3999 MSRP) is an ultra-high-performance streaming amplifier with superb audiophile sound "
On NAD's website it's output is listed as "Continuous Power: 200W into 8/4 Ohms", so no more power on tap for the additional $2000.
The Hegel looks fantastic... but then from what I hear, Hegels are very nice. However it's another $5000 integrated.
To stop the guessing over the Strata's price...PS Audio has the price listed on their website. It's $2999. Of course, unlike the NAD, it is lacking a PhonoStage, so I'd need to come up with that additionally.
One does wonder where they had to skimp to do that and whether or not the DAC or Streamer modules can be updated via software/firmware.
I went from receivers to separates a few years ago.. so it feels a little odd going back, but I'm not going to be upgrading my Emotiva preamp/dac and power amp with other separates costing 3-5 thousand each.
I got a mid/low end Marantz CD6006 last month. It has a DAC that blows away the DAC in my Emotive PT-100. I stream from my laptop through the Marantz now. It just started me thinking about what level of components must be in the Emotiva to create a Preamp, MM/MC PhonoStage, tuner and DAC for $325.
Anyways, it will be very interesting to test one.

MTDining, The  Ayre EX8 looks nice. Not sure what the output is for 4ohm speakers. They list " 100Wpc into 8 ohms (20dBW)". (Again thinking of my Maggie 1.6's.   Didn't see much in the way of streaming support, other than Spotify and Roon. Lastly, it's $6000.

Thanks all

If these new products can close the gap between audiophile vs  life style products i’m all for it.  Can’t think of a better pathway for the younger generation to get involved in HiFi.

PSA site has clarified that Strata will have a chip-based dac (unlike Directstream Sr, for example). The dac in Strata will presumably be upgraded over the one in Gain Cell Dac/Preamp.  The chip is ES9016 or 9018, I forget which (16 I think), for whatever that is worth.

Yeah, I agree with chrshanl37 on these products filling a nice gap and being good for the industry. Too many too content with poor quality and if this can be a gateway that’s good.