First, thank you greatly for your commentary.
For context, I've been hooked on audio since teenage years that were dominated by the original AR amp and Ar 2's, and their bigger speakers, the AR Turntable and through stuff too numerous to mention. Regret giving away my Dahlquists years ago. Same with Martin Logans, those in a dedicated listening room.
I'm running now what many (I read Audiogon too) will smirk at: my old but lightly used Rotel amp is an RB 956 AX, it's pre amp gathering dust in a closet, biwired to B&W 702's. via a Bluesound Node 2. I have no need to listen to my otherwise wonderful Denon DCD 1560 because Tidal and Qobuz (via ethernet) are giving me more that I've ever experienced, frankly.
Incidentally I detect a small quality improvement MQA over Qobuz hi rez but wouldn't wager much in a blind tasting.
I have my satisfactory. few-years-old Sonos amp providing tunes to the lanai, too.
Listen primarily to Jazz these days, with a renewed appreciation for Keith Jarrett at the moment, (we have a musical loss there) but never turning away from well recorded Blues, and a Tedeschi-Trucks and Bonamassa fan too.
Re budget, yes, to a $K or so but with the ability to return what does not make a significant difference to these ears. I'm not unhappy with what I hear, just curious about what's around corners.
For context, I've been hooked on audio since teenage years that were dominated by the original AR amp and Ar 2's, and their bigger speakers, the AR Turntable and through stuff too numerous to mention. Regret giving away my Dahlquists years ago. Same with Martin Logans, those in a dedicated listening room.
I'm running now what many (I read Audiogon too) will smirk at: my old but lightly used Rotel amp is an RB 956 AX, it's pre amp gathering dust in a closet, biwired to B&W 702's. via a Bluesound Node 2. I have no need to listen to my otherwise wonderful Denon DCD 1560 because Tidal and Qobuz (via ethernet) are giving me more that I've ever experienced, frankly.
Incidentally I detect a small quality improvement MQA over Qobuz hi rez but wouldn't wager much in a blind tasting.
I have my satisfactory. few-years-old Sonos amp providing tunes to the lanai, too.
Listen primarily to Jazz these days, with a renewed appreciation for Keith Jarrett at the moment, (we have a musical loss there) but never turning away from well recorded Blues, and a Tedeschi-Trucks and Bonamassa fan too.
Re budget, yes, to a $K or so but with the ability to return what does not make a significant difference to these ears. I'm not unhappy with what I hear, just curious about what's around corners.