Preamp vs DAC vs Streamer

Using the Marantz AVR as a front end to everything you have is clearly the weakest link. 

You seem to like separates and combining a preamp with a DAC - or virtually anything - is going to lessen the quality of the preamp itself. There are plenty of preamps under 2K which would have a number of line outs for all of your gear. Rogue's RP-1 can be had used for under 1.5K. NAD does make a streamer preamp that I am sure would be a step up in sound from the Marantz.

Not a fan of Parasound, I had the 2125V2 amp for awhile it had plenty of power, it was dry and lifeless with music. I understand that it would work well with dialogue that would be fitting for TV, but music and dialogue are two different animals.

I have the Yggy and enjoy it but DAC's are the one area where inroads can and will be made in the future, so I would suggest the much cheaper Bifrost v2 which I also had and was warmer in the high-end which negates the sometimes brittle edge you can get with many DAC's. None of the DAC's I have had matched the performance of my turntable setups. I had an Xpression (one of many Pro-Ject's I started with) at one time and currently have the Rega P6/Ania setup. The Yggy did not beat the Xpression- nor the Rega P6. I had a Musical Surroundings Nova III with battery pack for both of those turntables so YMMV. Phono preamp's are typically ignored but make a huge difference just as premps to amps do in every setup. Point being, if you like the sound of vinyl, it is doubtful you will ever have a DAC that will top that sound. Someday, I believe, that may not be true but turning and burning on DAC's is a great way to lose money in a quest to sit and listen, rather than searching and flipping...although there is nothing wrong with that! It's just a money pit and you may want to tell your wife that there is nothing wrong with that, if that makes sense to her! (It won't). 

Preamps are the front end and I had a few before the RP-1 but I would highly recommend you purchase one with tubes in the output stage (like the RP-1). I would not suggest however that you go to far beyond that as, for me and others here who generally agree, you really can only hear the output tubes and if you purchased one that has more than 2 tubes, you are entering an area that may prove murky and fundamentally change everything.

My experience with a PrimaLuna 100 was one that made me realize I had too many tubes in front of my SS amps. There was a veil and rolling tubes did not lift the curtain. The RP-1 was far better than the PrimaLuna at a lower price and less maintenance. But, I will admit, the PrimaLuna was the ONLY piece of gear that I ever bought and sold for more - 3 years later at more than $550 my purchase price!! That never happens, but they are popular for reasons I can only imagine that have to do with looks. It looked awesome! WOW look at thing! But Sound? Does that matter? lol

So after switching out the two stock J&J tubes that the RP-1 comes with (to NOS Mullards) I was completely sold on the RP-1 and it is a keeper.

If you are considering a Preamp that would include a DAC, Streamer, etc., then you may want to just get an integrated amp with all those things included. It does get crowded with separates, and the added cost of cables is something you must contend with. But as soon as you get a preamp that does more than just that you are weakening the link at the preamp level..if that makes sense. For me, I will never use the headphone amp in the RP-1 but that I saw as a giveaway. If a Preamp comes with a Streamer or Phono preamp you are getting more than a preamp, but lesser of a preamp...if THAT makes any sense!? 

Good luck, you seem to be where I once was and you should not make the same mistakes that I did! 

@signaforce 

Thank you for the kind words. Congratulations on the RP-1. 

My experience with the NOS Mullards that I got from Kevin at Upscale ended up with an ear ache while they were transitioning to sweet sounding tubes. I got hiss from one channel and did not hear it until my ears hurt. Oddly, it was only on certain tracks for whatever reason. Upscale states on the box that they were burned in for 50 hours but expect at least the first 50 hours to be one where you should either listen to near mute levels or not at all. I had not experienced this type of fits of hiss and distortion from a tube before. 

I should also relay to you that during this time I switched out my silver interconnects (DAC to Preamp) to copper ones and the sound was immediately much better. May switch to silver again at some point but for now I feel no need to go back. 

The Mullards are the first valves that I have "heard" and I am smitten. The RP-1 is generally neutral, but the Mullards are not, and thus, the journey continues..

Let us know how it all works out with your new gear.

@signaforce

I see Upscale changed title for those Mullards from NOS to NEW. Guessing they received complaints i.e. deceptive practices.

I knew they were new as the price of an actual old stock Mullard would be well above the $43 price tag. Pretty sure it was this forum where I learned Russia bought rights to the Mullard design. 

As it is, Russia is the center of the tube industry because they still use them in military avionics etc. If anyone can create a new tube to match old specs it would be Russia.

A year or so ago I purchased sound deflectors on Etsy from a seller in Ukraine. Guess maybe I will call it a wash and I understand apprehension at helping an enemy. 

As an option,Brimar tubes are highly rated for Rogue products but I believe they run around $300 a pair. 

@signaforce

You may want to repost this as a starter thread in digital to find other members who may have experience with the miniDSP SHD. I doubt there are many, to be honest, but a search of miniDSP on this forum does seem to have some life.

I would advise against any whole Chinese product (engineered; mfg in China; sold online from China) but there are a subset of those that take the risk on this site, usually buying suspect cables on alibaba. 

While it is an exciting time to be an audiophile and vinyl spinner I have been noticing much more blurring of the lines when it comes to products that are labeled audiophile but are notably AV related. Most on this site will sport 2- channel setups and anything beyond that is open to derision. It is social media after all and we all miss making fun of one another without repercussions. 

The connecting factor between 2 and multiple speaker setups is the screen. Two channel setups may have always had digital readouts, toggles and flywheels, but now they are increasingly having screens big enough for menus and EQ manipulation. Having two NAD amps, I am interested in one that can utilize Dirac Live but so far all I am seeing is integrated amps. Hopefully, that will change.

What Dirac Live says can be cured, can generally be cured via acoustic panels, bass traps, etc. Many audiophiles have limitations with gear setup and having Dirac Live can be used as a tool for proper distribution of room treatment. But it's value lessens if you have generally gotten over the hump of understanding what is going on with your room with reflection points and have remedied the worst of it. Still, I would like to incorporate it at some point when it is feasible to do so, if for no other reason than confirmation bias. 

Amir at ASR measures scientifically but offers up no judgement on sound. While the product measures well, there are plenty of highly sought after audiophile electronics that do not measure well. Grain of salt, perhaps. Remember, the hardest to drive speakers are the ones that sound the best, if for no other reason than you finally found an amp that can drive them!

You definitely want your digital going through the Rogue because the output tubes will soften the edges of digital music. The stock J&J tubes- maybe not so much- but upgrading your tubes is a game changer for digital music through the Rogue. While my Yggy still cannot out shine my Rega turntable, this is the closest they have ever gotten and the Mullard tubes only accent the richness of vinyl.

A highly resolving SS preamp that can touch the Rogue is not going to cost less than $1,300 and getting a DAC included that would rival your current DAC is highly suspect. Now, if they threw in a few ShamWows and a Ginsu knife then it may be worthy of consideration!

@signaforce 

"+16db spikes at 32hz" Yeah, that's a problem! At least you know the KEF's can dig deep..I am guessing though that such an issue would be from a movie soundtrack rather than a musical track.

You may not really need the subwoofer especially if you don't listen to music that dips below 30hz. I had used a sub for a few years but realized it was overkill and listening without one put more emphasis on the midrange frequencies - which is where most of the music resides. Doesn't help that I am getting older and my hearing is fading. 

Two ports on each speaker that houses 4- 6 1/2" woofers is fairly unique, especially a port that high up on the speaker. Throw windows and a sub into the mix and I see your dilemma and a need for measurements/data. To add to that scenario, the Brimar tubes are likely to add more bass. Good luck with that! ;)

As for the Rogue, I typically turn it on a couple of hours before I listen. My understanding is that a preamp with tubes can be left on at all times, but not the case with an amplifier. My DAC is on all the time, as Schiit suggests to do so as it will better the results. 

Please be sure to share your thoughts on the tonal changes of the Brimar tubes once you have had some time with them as they are on my want list.