Ck - I think the 326 is 50wpc, my Rotel amp is 200wpc and the speakers I plan to buy like a lot of watts, so I don't think I want to go the integrated route.
Roxy54 - thanks anyway, always good to hear about new gear. I will research the brand.
I have already considered the following:
parasound new classic 2100 (goes quick on Agon)
Anthem TLP-1 (very rare to find used)
Emotiva USP-1 (those bolt on metal strips look cheap)
Pacific Valve Audio gd PS 2 (just found this one, link: http://www.pacificvalve.us/AUDIOGDP2.html, does anyone have one of these units?) |
Gte357s - I understand the extra $300 gets me into the next level of used gear. Have been looking now for a while, and have seen even some McCormack gear hovering around $850, and have also seen nice Anthem tubed pre's around $750.
Since I have to also buy the speakers tho, is it better to put that extra money in the pre, in the head unit, or in the speakers? That is the age old question.
It's hard for me to get past the Peachtree gear, since I really want to get into computer audio, but it would be a shame to find out its just too much of a time eater to mess with a laptop as a transport. |
1st-ly, thanx so much for all the comments...
Ddan6815 - I have researched the USP-1 at length, and it does feature fully variable high and low pass filters, which is a total anomaly in mid-fi, I cannot find anything else that has this. Do you own one? I have heard no complaints on this unit, but I am wondering about spending a little more and getting something like the PS Audio PCA-2, http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1280589297&/PS-Audio-PCA-2-, something that had a much higher original retail price...older technology...I am unable to audition pre-amps, most of them that I find in the brick and mortar shops are beyond my reach. I know Emotiva has an in-home trial, but the company is so new...
Kotta - I like the RC-995 suggestion, it has two sets of outputs and also balanced output, matches the balanced output on the amp. I will watch for this one, does it have a remote control? The more modern Rotel pre-amps do not have balanced output. Interesting that they eliminated this. XLR is not a requirement, but it is interesting as an upgrade path.
Tbromgard - I eventually want to get into vinyl, much further down the road...
Koven - is it not a sin to mate a tubed pre with a SS power amp...
Energizer - I have neither the patience, skill nor time to put together one of their kits. I leave that to better men. |
Ddan6815 - you must be referring to the Emotiva USP-1. Do you run a subwoofer? |
Ddan - I ran a pair of B&W 685s with a HSU sub for about 6 months, until I bought the Denon AVR. I used a 15 year old Yamaha integrated, connected the sub to the B speaker terminals, and just used the crossover on the HSU, so no high-pass for the 685s. When I bought the Denon, I tried high-passing them, and was not satisfied until I bi-amped the 685s with the Denon's rear channels. Even then I thought the sound was better running the 685s full range. Now that I have the Rotel to push the 685s, the sound is much better. Still not sure about the Audessey room correction on the Denon - this is why I want to check out a pre-amp with bass management.
Some folks highly recommend tubed pre-amps, like the Anthem Pre 2 L, http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1280423801&/Anthem-Pre-2-L--SE-special-edi, doesn't have bass management but does have two sets of pre's, so I can use the crossover on the powered sub...so quality pre or bass management I guess is the dilemma. |
UPDATE - I now play 2-channel music through the Denon, using the Audessey room correction and the "restorer" set to "HD." The latter is meant to give detail and weight to the high and low frequencies. Using all of these processors isn't really a purist, audiophile way to listen to music, but it beats the hell out of the Denon's "pure direct" mode, and I'm pretty happy for now. I had to play around with speaker placement, listening position, and all of the settings on the Denon, but I have arrived at a fairly good place for 2-channel music. Wouldn't it be something to buy a dedicated pre-amp and new speakers for my basement office, and not get better 2-channel sound quality than my HT rig...? Well that experiment will have to wait until the economy comes back... |
GoBlue - Great suggestion and DEFINITELY one that I have been tracking. I have seen them for a great price IN DENVER and my heart was as broke as my bank account. LOVE the TLP 1 because it's Anthem AND it features bass management, which is something I am interested in because I am still oscillating between montitors vs. full range speakers. |
Gte357s - what head unit were you using before you tried an external DAC? And...which DAC, preamp and speakers are you talking about? Agree regarding the amp, I doubt I would be able to hear an audible improvement over my Rotel RB-1080 unless I spent 3x or 4x the money ($1500-$2000). Right now I have to get the pre-amp above the Rotel's level.
Although my Denon 3310 is doing pretty well in my little office. I took down the home theater system and moved it into my office, renovating the living room.
There is a small but insistent contingent of A'gonr's that insist on spending the big $$$ on the head unit first...But how much fun is that?!? |
This thread was not really started about DACs, but I thought I would relate the experience I had pushing music digitally through the Burr Brown 24/96 DACs in my Denon receiver. I dragged my old Toshiba HD-DVD player out of mothballs and used its optical output to pipe digital signal into the receiver, using a cheapo "redfish" plastic toslink cable from Best Buy (sacrilege on this forum?!?). Compared to my 15 year old Yamaha changer, all frequencies sound more extended and detailed. I can hear more of the music. Can't say too much about any improvement in imaging, I think the 685s trade that for neutrality. But anyways, a definite improvement.
We'll have to see what effect the loss of the changer has on my listening tendencies. The Yami changer has been boxed. |
UPDATE - bought a Halo P3 last February, used on A'gon. Very happy with it. |
UPDATE - bought a PS Audio DL III, running lossless AIFF into it from my PC laptop, Windows 7, iTunes--Pangea USB--MF Vlink--Wireworld COAX--DL III--Rotel RB-1080, sounds so good I'm probably selling the Halo...! |
