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Recommendations Amp, DAC for Kef R900

Looking for advice on Amp’s and DAC’s for my new Kef R900 speakers.  Currently running them with only a Yamaha A-S801 amp, and I’m afraid I may be under powering the speakers, and may damage them (although I have not heard any clipping yet).

I am using a Sonos Connect - listen to mostly Tidal and Spotify, both through my iPhone, and the USB port on amp.  Listen to large variety of music, but mostly to Alternative, Classic Rock, and Reggae.  I will also be attaching TV to system soon, but will use the system 99% of the time for just music. Unless I start watching a lot of movies, I don’t plan on adding a sub. Have the system setup in my fairly large, basement. 

I want to purchase a very nice system, but only want to purchase in steps.  When finished I would like a good 2ch integrated Amp, and DAC system, but am wondering if I should get separate Amp/Pe-Amp.  Would I notice a big difference listening to streaming?  I was hoping to use the Yamaha as the Pre-Amp, and buy a nice Amp next, but I believe that this is not an option.  I want to buy used, budget of $2k for Amp, $1.5k for DAC, but I am flexible.


vaporcloud
maritime51's avatar
maritime51
1,288 posts
 
A real shame 
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Uncola
In other news I did notice the right channel sound less loud than the left when I have volume set to 16 through 32 ... it’s like a 90% reduction in volume in the right channel.

Are you sure the problem is evident at 16 through 32, rather than at 16 through 31?

If the latter, it sounds like one of the digital bits that controls the volume selection in the internal circuitry of the amp is stuck, and won’t change from 0 to 1 or vice versa. I suspect that you would also find a volume reduction in the right channel at some higher volume settings, if you were to have occasion to use them, in groups of 16 settings.

In any event, unfortunately it certainly sounds like the amp has a defect.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
uncola
56 posts
 
Yes, I might change my dac to variable output and reduce the dac volume to like 50% so I can try some of the higher volume settings on the amp without the speakers getting crazy loud.. As it is right now though, it’s pretty easy for me to avoid 16-32.. it might be 16-31, I’ll have to check again. If it’s just 16-32 it’s not worth mailing in for service. I listen near field so I won’t really use the super high volume settings

I did let alvin know about it so he could make sure the factory is testing it.. he said they do test l/r output so maybe it happened during shipping?  either way I'm not that bothered by it because I can avoid those volume levels 
maritime51's avatar
maritime51
1,288 posts
 
Surely this can be fixed or a new amp sent!  This is a good warranty test so keep us posted. I’m coming up on about 70 hours. 
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
@Uncola, if my theory is correct and the problem occurs in groups of 16 settings at various higher settings of the volume control, it would occur to a less severe degree at higher volume settings.

More importantly, though, if my theory is correct I would NOT expect the defect to cause any adverse sonic effects at volume settings for which the reduction in right channel volume doesn’t occur.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
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