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Budget System Advice still partying like it's 1999

The kid is out of the house and I have taken over his old bedroom as a Listening Room! 
I listen to a wide range of music but generally not too loud. The room is rather small with some acoustic treatments so I have a nearfiled listening set-up. 

Current system:
Amazon HD Music
Apple Airport Express 
MSB Link DAC (Toslink)
Music Hall 15.2 Integrated ( Toddler killed the Rega Integrated :-(  a true test of unconditional love. )
Triangle Titus XS
Rega Planar 

I assume the Airport Express / Toslink / MSB are obsolete. Is that true? Looking for suggestions for digital source upgrades that fit the system. 
Thanks  







geper00
9 responses Add your response
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
Nothing wrong with your digital components. Why waste money?
geper00 OP
4 posts
 
Thanks for input.  
soix
9,456 posts
 
By all accounts (including a direct comparison test in The Absolute Sound) Qobuz sounds better than Amazon HD, which seems a bit spotty in terms of sound quality.  Not familiar with Airport Express, but toslink is not optimal so I’d look to at least upgrade to SPDIF.  DACs have come a long way even just relatively recently so that’d be another area you might look to upgrade.  If you share your sonic preferences/budget we could throw out some good recommendations for you to explore further.  Anyway, just some thoughts off the top, and best of luck. 
geper00 OP
4 posts
 
Appreciate the input. I'll look into Qobuz.

MSB Link DAC is  24-bit / 96kHz and has one pair analog bypass, two digital (coax, TosLink). The Airport Express has a digital optical out that is like a headphone jack that is connected to the Toslink input in the MSB. 

Lean more toward acoustic music so natural midrange and imaging/soundstage is what works for me.

Thinking of spending about $500 on an upgrade for now. Either Bluesound Node, Desktop DAC with Optical or Rasberry Pi with DAC. 



oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Well you know if it ain't broke...:-)

BUT If ya got to spend ya got to spend.. Enjoy..

Regards
geper00 OP
4 posts
 
 HeHe. Just having a dedicated room is a HUGE upgrade, I probably should enjoy it for a while. 'Cause I will want to spend eventually that's just the way it goes. 
mesch
3,473 posts
 
Yea, get to know your system in the 'new' room for a while. Then upgrade starting with your music source and streamer.  
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
Do you have a subwoofer?
geper00 OP
4 posts
 
No. The room is small (9x10x12 h) so lower bass is tricky. Placing the monitors about 14” off the front wall seems give me enough bass reinforcement.
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