A good place to start might be the Music Hall receiver/dac (forget the name) but I've heard it and its a pretty decent piece. You would need to add a stand alone phono stage. The rcvr is about $700 used, I think. A decent phono stage would cost you a few hundred (Lehman Black cube maybe). Add a Denon 3910 universla player for maybe $400. Or you could rip all of your CDs to the iMac and skip the universal player; sink those $ into a better phono stage.
starting from scratch almost , need advice
I posted a thread here (lazy old audiophile) last month about how to get music from my computer to my speakers. I think I've learned something since - many helpful responses re DACs, etc. Now I have decided to go back to the beginning, almost, and try to determine what is the best way to go. My cost goals are flexible, though I do want good value. I will probably try to find components used here on audiophile. What is fixed is my new iMac and a pair of Kef 205/2 reference speakers. I also have a nice old Technics SL1400mkII turntable and a paragon E tube preamp from the 70's, and a pretty basic (poor) CD player. (1) I understand that some integrated amps are now available with digital inputs, so I could go from the iMac to the integrated amp. Most of these do not have phono stages. If I go that route, can I use the paragon preamp as a phono stage and how? (2) Or I could get an amplifier and use the paragon, but would still have to get a DAC. (3) Or I could get a good SACD that I could also use as the DAC for signal from the Imac (which ones permit this?), or I could get a multifunction SACD, DVD etc, player (I do have HDTV and cable in the same room). I do not think of myself as an audiophile - but I do find that poorly reproduced music bores me. So without being particularly knowledgeable, or knowledgeable at all, I am kind of spoiled when it comes to decent sound. What would you do?
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Take a look at this: http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/system1/digital-analog-converter/dac1-pre which should work well as the hub of a basic modern stereo setup. |
1. As far as an integrated that also features a DAC, this is the only one I'm aware of: Peachtree Audio Decco. And, this little integrated is well regarded. 2. I think Dan is right, you'll have to get a new phono stage, which can be connected to the Decco. 3. Can a CDP be connected to an IMAC? Toslink? I'm not sure. One thing to keep in mind, SACD discs cannot be ripped, so if you have a SACD collection, you'll need a player. There's lots of good multi-disc players out there, including the aforementioned Denon. |
Thanks for the responses. I think I need at least 100 amps for these speakers, would probably prefer 150 to 250. That seems to leave out the Peachtree and maybe the Music Hall. I don't now have a SACD collection - but as my wife and friends complain that there is no gift they can get me when gifts are supposed to be given, I thought for their sake I might start one. I have been told the Cambridge 840c and 740c CD players can be used as a DAC from the iMac, and wondered if there are others. What about the paragon E preamp as a phono stage leading to the amp or integrated amp? |
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