Guidance for a college student...


Hello,

I've been reading these forums for over a year now and have picked up tons of great info. My current question for the community is how to proceed with my system once I will be leaving school.

My current system consists of modest and portable components that are fairly simple to transport when moving time comes ~4x per year (I can't be without my gear over winter break).

The signal chain...
Denon DVD-900 ->
Cardas High Speed Digital Coax ->
NAD T742 Receiver ->
Star-Quad 4S11 Speaker Wire ->
Wharfedale Diamond 8.3 Speakers (and bipolars)

My proposal... Eliminate the multichannel system for now. I want to start a better quality 2 channel system and possibly get into surround again later. I will either be in law school or an aerospace job in this coming fall and my budget will depend on which of the two options I pursue.

With CD as my main source, I have been giving thought to a Shanling T-100 or Wadia 830 source going straight to power amp(s). Given that I would like to preserve DVD capability, I am currently favoring the 830 with digital inputs (assuming this would accept a PCM signal - although I am aware that not all DVDs even have this). If this is feasable, I would buy a good amp or perhaps 2 Norh Le Amp IIs that I have read about or a comprably priced amp here on audiogon. For the time I would keep my adequate Diamond 8.3s and upgrade speakers after I became comfortable with the rest of my equipment.

Aside from the potential incompatibility of the digital output of a DVD with the 830's digital input does anyone see any obvious flaws or better uses of money to build a simple 2 channel system that does CD and DVD acceptably (i.e. some DVDs may not have an output that the 830 can decode - assuming the 830 even accepts PCM which I would assume it does).

Do any DVD players exist with good enough sound to function as a CD source within the budget of other components I mentioned (and if so is this a better option considering I'd need a pre or integrated that I would not need with a Wadia).

For some idea of a budget to consider when suggesting alternatives. (I would keep current DVD player if I had an 830).

Used Wadia 830 ~$1700
Norh Le Amp II ~$600 ($300X2) - I'm very suspect of how cheaply these can be sold. Despite the lack of info on this forum they seem to be well liked elsewhere.

I will worry about digital/speaker cables later, but my main concern is the possibility of an int-amp and DVD player (or seperate DVD/CD players) that could compete for ~$2300. I think the budget squeeze comes in when considering analog cabling for the associate CD and DVD player. Am I foolish to keep the modest speakers in the system? - I've consistently noticed that I get better sound throwing money at electronics than speakers (to a point obviously).

I understand I've presented a lot of info and questions here, so thank you in advance for any responses I may receive. Part of my thoroughness was in an attempt to avoid a generic "What's the best amp and CD player for $2300" when such subjects have been beaten to death. I also think that such a system as I have proposed may be of interest to other users (simple high quality CD and possibly reasonable sound from DVD as well). If I didn't enjoy concert DVDs so much this wouldn't be a concern
wadedwyer

Showing 1 response by aroc

Well it looks like the Wadia inputs support 48k, 44.1k, and 32k inputs (at up to 24bit word length, I assume). See http://www.wadia.com/news/contents/2496upg.htm. That is going to be what your DVD player with output. PCM at either 48k or 96k and up to 24bit word length. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. You DVD player's set up menus should have settings to enable folddown of the output to PCM. My Panasonic RP82 does. I imagine your Denon does too.

As for your electronics vs. loudspeaker inquiry. I feel it is a rare day when one spends less on his amplifiers than on his speakers. my $0.02, YMMV.

I don't know anything about Norh, but I would consider something else. But that's just me. Soemtimes you see a McCormack DNA-1 dx for $600. The Audio Alchemy OM-150 for $400 right now would be decent - but I'd research the reliability first. AA is out of business. The one I sold broke about 6 months later. $400 is an OK price for that amp. Also consider the old standby - an Adcom gfa555II. ALso saw an N.E.W. 20.1 class A amp in the classifieds. Though you may not be satisfied with 20 watts.

I would think the McCormack to be the best of the bunch and Steve McCormack has a bunch of upgrades available for his older amps. Either that, or pick something that resells well.