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What is the right choice?

So I am looking to upgrade from a NAD C356BEE integrated receiver to something that provides better sonic fidelity and a phono connection and onboard DAC. The budget/price point is around $1000 to $1600. So far two different sale people recommend the Yamaha s801. I have also listened to the NAD c368 and c388 with my speakers attached which I have brought to the local dealer for demo.

So I look for reviews and come across Sean from Zero Fidelity who provides an interesting approach for a technology review of audio gear. He conveys a comprehensive look at the technology piece inside and out and leaves you with a pretty thorough understanding of how the Yamaha s801 will sound. A good performing piece just not great. Sean then leaves you with a look at some comparable amps.  The NAD c316BEE and the IOTAVX. The NAD is not worth mentioning relative to this study but the IOTAVX Stack based on all of his reviews is what I should be looking at.

Can anyone share their experience with IOTA's technology and service?

Is this the right step up in fidelity from the NAD c356?

Should I be looking at Arcam, Cambridge, Marantz, Pro-ject and Quad as part of this study? 
 
musicvt

Showing 3 responses by musicvt

musicvt OP
7 posts
 
Azmike1,
Thanks for the feedback on the Iota. I'm surprised you did not purchase the stack. However, you might want to after hearing the Forte iii. The Forte iii is a lot of speaker.

I ended up with a pair of PSB T2's, so i have my original pair of PSB B's up for sale. I also made a drastic decision and acquired the PS Audio m700 monoblock amps and the PS Audio GDAC pre/dac. With the trade-in deal that PS Audio offers you cannot go wrong.
I now have a system that i would consider audiophile 101 and the sound stage is night and day of my old system. 

I also bought the Schiit Mani for phono pre for my ProJect TT. So my sources are LP's, CD's, Squeezebox and Qobuz. The CD's and Qobuz through the PS Audio DAC has the best fidelity out of all my sources.

Enjoy the music.

musicvt OP
7 posts
 
I currently have a pair of PSB Imagine B's which I am upgrading to the PSB Tower T2's.
musicvt OP
7 posts
 
I appreciate all the feedback I received from this post, however I have not had any comments on the IOTAVX S3/P3 possible decision. This would be an upgrade to support the need for a phono input, a DAC and some additional wattage. Does anybody have experience with this brand?
Now I am adding an additional question relative to another one of Zero Fidelity's high ranking reviews, the Buchardt S400 bookshelf speaker.

Does this pairing makes Hi-Fi sense? IotaVX and the S400? Is this a sonic upgrade from the NAD C356 and the PSB Imagine B's?

Sean from Zero Fidelity, care to comment?
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