Okay, I can't promise a lot of responsiveness if anyone replies here, because life is crazy now, but I have appreciated these forums and what people contribute, so here's my $0.02.
I joined the Stellar Strata beta. I've been burning it in for three days straight now using Spotify and USB. I read somewhere that Class-D amps take a long time (two weeks!) to burn in, and I would definitely not recommend any listening for the first two days of music and pink noise. Definitely, don't do it. But it sounds good enough after three days that I'll probably only wait a week before getting seriously comparative.
On the third day, the PRaT and bass are showing themselves to be head-bobbingly competitive with my Naim 250 DR system. And detail in digital playback (vs. my Schiit Yggy/B) has moments of "hmm, hadn't heard/don't recall that sound/quality" from long-time test tracks. But, I'm not ready to go head to head yet due to drapes being inconveniently removed for cleaning. When they're back, it's going to be fun because my room and system are tuned and IMO, awesomely satisfying for me.
So why the Strata over my separates system?
In my world of sonic priorities, overall sound quality is #1 and PRaT is #1 with tone/timbre/frequency balance and blackness and "real" space around soundstage/reverb a close second. i.e., All of that.
But if the Strata can sound good (enough), then it has some points possibly going for it that are very appealing:
1. PS Audio know a thing about AC power, so I presume the power section is reasonably well designed. I have a dedicated line and the area where I live has clean-ish power, but I'll probably get one of their regenerators anyway.
2. The DAC is built in and has their Analog Gain Cell "preamp" as well as their trickle down time-domain tech from their big DAC, but most important practically is that Strata has Ethernet input which obviates the need for external DAC, power cable, and extra digital to digital conversion (DDC) steps with their attendant power cords and power supplies. Each of those elements affect the sound and expense. My current system achieves outstanding results in just this fashion. Wouldn't it be great to keep the sound and have all the mess go away?
2a. Since it is designed for modern streaming, I hope it can play Spotify with reasonable quality, and so far I think it does. But, more testing when the drapes are back. Local files streamed via iTunes still sound noticeably better, but Spotify Connect is reasonably good quality for less critical listening (meaning more than background music, but less than music as complete forefront of attention).
Maybe a different filter DAC setting, maybe not. Nice to have a choice even if I'll probably set and forget. My problem is that I still like better sound regardless (even if it's not "better music") so in general I will still go to the trouble of local files for familiar songs. This might be the biggest hurdle for me.
3. I presume I won't have to re-cap the PS Audio unit like I do my Naim gear every five to seven-ish years! The improvement after recapping is awesome, but the financial hit is, well, worth it for Naim's sound. But wouldn't it be nice not to have to?
4. Going from four big and two small boxes and snake's pit of cables to one box & remote. Far fewer fancy, expensive cables (read: expensive components unto themselves). One box generating close to the same, or just different but comparable quality of sonic emotion produced by my current system.
5. All this reasonably distinctive analog and digital and power tech being integrated and voiced into one box by a company and people in that company who have a history in the industry. That counts for something.
People seem to be concerned about upgrade-ability. I'm not. If it sounds great already, what's to upgrade other than maybe a tweak to the DAC or adding in some new streaming service? I say upgrade your room/treatments and AC power and speakers before worrying about this other stuff.
The point of all this is simply to share my positive impressions so far and lay out the reasons for a buyer who like me, might want high resolution, high quality sound in one box with minimal audiophile cable tweaks like DDC with their commensurate power and cable expenses. All I expect to add are a power cable (AVOptions) and Uptone Audio's EtherREGEN + Transparent (Audio) Ethernet cable.
Admittedly, it's a great time in affordable audio. I can think of several possible choices, options and system scenarios including separates, at this price point. But one can't audition everything (especially in one's own room/system), and we've all gone to hear something with rave reviews only to be let down by...so many possible things. So for me, #5 above is an exciting starting point, and because of the beta program.
Hope this helps!
