Sprout 100 and the new version of the NAD 3020 also on my list. I used to follow audiophilia years ago before I left it for other obsessions and at the time lusted after P$$$ Audio gear. The idea that I can now get a PS Audio integrated for budget audiophile dollars is kind of amazing. As for the new NAD my only hesitation is the somewhat difficult onboard controls, which got sort of slammed in some reviews for poor touch responsiveness. My wife has to use this system so (sorry for the borderline sexism) it has to be easy to use. Have they improved that at all in the latest version of the NAD amp? I guess the remote is an easier backup...
DAC Confusion
Just picked up a used Bluesound N100 at a local HiFi store in my parts that was listed here. Mentioned to the sales guy that I am starting fresh with a new system and need amplification. He suggested an integrated amp with a built-in DAC (NAD 368). Here’s my question: aside from the relative merits of that NAD unit, why would I need a built-in DAC when the N100 has its own DAC? He claimed the NAD DAC is superior to the one in the N100 and thus worth the extra $ I’d be paying compared with an integrated without a DAC. Hmmmm.... really? I know there can be qualitative, significant differences in performance between DACs, but between the one in the NAD 368 vs the N100? I’m a bit skeptical, and he didn’t seem too eager to let me do a listening test.
Bottom line, I gotta buy an integrated and my shelf space (and budget) is a bit tight, so if I’m gonna go the “Swiss army knife” route (to borrow a phrase from a related thread), it’s gonna be for a built-in phono stage for my LPs, not a redundant built-in DAC.
BTW, this will be driving a pair of efficient bookshelf speakers so I don’t need a ton of power. Of course, I mentioned that to the sales guy and he argued that I should buy as much power now as I could afford, to “future-proof” my purchase in case I decide to upgrade to more difficult-to-drive speakers later on.
That’s when I left the store ;)
Sorry for the long-winded post. I’m a newbie and my head is spinning a bit over all of this.
Bottom line, I gotta buy an integrated and my shelf space (and budget) is a bit tight, so if I’m gonna go the “Swiss army knife” route (to borrow a phrase from a related thread), it’s gonna be for a built-in phono stage for my LPs, not a redundant built-in DAC.
BTW, this will be driving a pair of efficient bookshelf speakers so I don’t need a ton of power. Of course, I mentioned that to the sales guy and he argued that I should buy as much power now as I could afford, to “future-proof” my purchase in case I decide to upgrade to more difficult-to-drive speakers later on.
That’s when I left the store ;)
Sorry for the long-winded post. I’m a newbie and my head is spinning a bit over all of this.
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- 23 posts total
- 23 posts total