2. home-theater
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Need advice on media player and or dacs

Im new to this so be gentle please. 

 Im building a home theater system and value music quality as much or more than theater quality. I currently have a marantz cinema 60, anthem mca325 gen2 amp, paradigm founder 120f r&l, rel ht1205 mkii, and b&w center and surrounds. Will be getting a founder 90c in near future to replce my b&w center. Im looking into dacs and media players as i would like to compile a library of quality music. Not sure if i need a dac as the marantz allegedly has a good one built in. As far as media players, can they really improve quality?  Wheres a good place to start?  Info out there is a bit confusing 

sandrodg73
tvrgeek
299 posts
 

Least people forget, a streamer is a PC you have less configuration control over. 

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cleeds
5,701 posts
 
tvrgeek

... a streamer is a PC you have less configuration control over ...

Most streamers aren't personal computers at all. Most that I've used run on Linux, where you have pretty much total control because it's open source.

sandrodg73 OP
67 posts
 

Does the modulus haveva ht bypass?  I dont have the room or $$to do a separate 2 ch set up. My L&R are paradigm 100fs. Which are pretty neutral to me. My B&Ws were too bright for music. Thats why i went away from them. I will be upgrading my center to paradigm also. Ultimately the only B&W speakers left will be my ceiling rear surrounds.  I really like them. So i guess my preamp needs to pair well with paradigm. Maybe anthem is the way to go but pretty pricey from what ive seen. 

sandrodg73 OP
67 posts
 

Another stupid questio...I have a "good" amp ( anthem mca 325 gen 2) and "good" paradigm speakers.  My marantz cinema 60 has pure and pure direct modes which should bypass all of the electronic stuff the avr does. Couldnt i put a good dac in line with my anthem and get the same effect as a preamp??   Excuse my ignorance

ddgtt's avatar
ddgtt
44 posts
 

Look no further than the Grimm MU1 music player/streamer ($12.5K) running into the amazing Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC ($13.5 K).  The best combo out there for the dollar (at any price actually). If that puts you a bit over budget, then substitute the Grimm for an Auralic Aries streamer (in any of the many generations over the past several years: G1.1 to G2.2).

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