meiwan

Responses from meiwan

How much do you need to spend on a DAC to...
Any dac at about $500 or more will be a major improvement. 
Experiences with NAD M51 DAC
I have owned both. The NAD offers considerably more detail at the expense of texture. Both benefit substantially from a good convertor. I use the Stello U3.A solid step up from both is the Metrum Hex, which I now own. 
Speaker Cables Upgrade - Which Ones?
Cardas and Purist both have a warm midrange and weighty bottom end, slightly rolled off up top. Not a good match for Harbeth.Audience and Auditorium are pretty much the opposite, lean through the mids and bottom with an open detailed top end. Of t... 
Audience AU24 or Auditorium 23
Mimetism 15.2 
Audience AU24 or Auditorium 23
Have used both with Harbeth. I preferred Auditorium. They both have a similar tonal balance, but the auditorium is more refined, especially in the highs.note I was using tubes. With SS, both came off as too lean for my tastes. Went with Acoustic Z... 
Should I Use an AVR for 2-Channel Home Theater
All source components will downmix multichannel to PCM. The earlier the better in the chain. Both my blueray player and cable box do a great job, allowing me to output the digital signal via coax or toslink.Sub management, if you need it, is best ... 
Should I Use an AVR for 2-Channel Home Theater
A 2 channel integrated amp will always sound far better for the same money. Only catch is you will need a dac as well. Perhaps you can look into some of the 2 channel integrated amps with built in dac. Forget the av receivers if you plan to do 2 c... 
Need recommendation for preamp/dac.
You might look into the new NAD M51 DAC. I just recently moved to it from the W4S. It offers a pure digital preamp section and a host of input options.I tend to prefer a proper preamp, but if you are thinking DAC with pre, add it to the list. 
How to transfer "pure music" from Imac to Mac mini
You have an account with Pure Music. Just go to their website and download a copy to your Mac mini. 
Dac and SPDIF
Your dac should have a pair of RCA output jacks that would go to your amplifier. The spdif jack looks the same, but is an input jack for the dac. Assuming your computer has USB , your dac will need a USB input. The coax input is not needed, unless... 
Setting up wireless digital music server
A Mac mini plus an external DAC. The iPad will control iTunes via the Mac mini.USB from the Mac mini to a dac of your choice. DAC via analogue RCA jacks to you integrated. 
How to introduce computer audio to my system?
A Mac mini is a very cost effective and popular option. 
Downgrading
Teac make some very nice all in one mini systems. We use one in our home office. 
Why do Harbeth speakers have such a cult following
I think because they have a signature sound. They do some things very well. If those things are what appeal to you, you are likely a fan. Cult type products tend to appeal to a small segment of the population who see them as special in some way. 
Which loudspeakers work best close to back wall?
Just avoid anything rear ported.