Amplifier Suggestions

[Rmusic10891]

Currently working on updating my battlestation/setup and really need to start working on upgrading my audio situation.  Currently I have a set of M-Audio AV30s that are run through the headphone out on my Philips 272P4QPJKEB which is essentially acting as an audio switch for my PC and Roku. Not ideal I know, but it's worked for the time being. I'm planning to add a TV and upgrade to a nicer set of passive Near Field Monitors that I also want to use for the TV. Basically I need an Amplifier that will accept two sources (preferably one optical) that is huge.

 

I've been searcing the web for solutions other than a full size AV Receiver. I really don't have the room for a reciever in my room, even something like the Slimline Marantz recievers just take up too much footprint. I've looked at Dayton Audio APA100, which might work depending on the TV's audio out situation. Its still a little big, and doesn't have a remote, which would be a big bonus since I plan to use to for a TV as well.

 

I'm pretty much open to all suggestions at this point. Thanks

 

 

[Fulgrim]

You'd be better off hitting up Head-Fi for such a specific audio requirement.

[Guest]

Typcially, people specify a budget.

 

You'd be better off hitting up Head-Fi for such a specific audio requirement.

 

Fairly unproductive.

[Fulgrim]

Fairly unproductive.

Referring someone to a site which is pretty much dedicated to audio gear is unproductive?

 

Do behave.

[Guest]

Referring someone to a site which is pretty much dedicated to audio gear is unproductive?

 

Do behave.

 

Do go away.

[Fulgrim]

Do go away.

No.

[Rmusic10891]

 

You'd be better off hitting up Head-Fi for such a specific audio requirement.

 

 

I thought about Head-Fi, figured I'd try here first since I'm already here.

 

 

Typcially, people specify a budget.

 

As for budget I hadn't really given it much thought since I haven't found anything that really meets all my needs to gauge what a solution might cost.  If I had to toss a number out I'd like to keep the amp budget to <$500 given it's such a small room.

[LemonCheek]

I thought about Head-Fi, figured I'd try here first since I'm already here.

 

 

As for budget I hadn't really given it much thought since I haven't found anything that really meets all my needs to gauge what a solution might cost.  If I had to toss a number out I'd like to keep the amp budget to <$500 given it's such a small room.

 

If you have that much to spend for an amp, go with the Objective2 (plus ODAC if you want) which is way under $500. I like to maximize budgets, but there comes a point that amps at even the $400 range starts giving out diminishing returns and sometimes end up being worse than those priced half of you budget.

Scratch this off. Pretend I never posted anything in post #8

 

 

 

[LemonCheek]

You'd be better off hitting up Head-Fi for such a specific audio requirement.

 

 

 

Referring someone to a site which is pretty much dedicated to audio gear is unproductive?

 

Do behave.

 

Head-fi's kinda full of bullocks. There's like around 3-4 for every 10,000 (more like 100,000) users in its alleged millions who go to Head-fi that actually know their shit.

 

 

 

[spwath]

If you have that much to spend for an amp, go with the Objective2 (plus ODAC if you want) which is way under $500. I like to maximize budgets, but there comes a point that amps at even the $400 range starts giving out diminishing returns and sometimes end up being worse than those priced half of you budget.

I beleive he said he needed it for passive speakers

[LemonCheek]

 

 

I beleive he said he needed it for passive speakers

Oh... shit... I think I'm still drunk.


Shooting from the hip, the Emotiva A100 Mini-X ($200) might help.

[Rmusic10891]

Head-fi's kinda full of bullocks. There's like around 3-4 for every 10,000 (more like 100,000) users in its alleged millions who go to Head-fi that actually know their shit.

 

There are a knowledgeable people on Head-Fi, but there are also a bunch of snobs which is pretty stupid in my opinion. I spent 10 years playing music in very competetive orchestras and the idea of spending thousands to try to recreate that sound just doesn't resonate with me.

 

 

 

 

Oh... shit... I think I'm still drunk.

Shooting from the hip, the Emotiva A100 Mini-X ($200) might help.

 

LOL, I haven't ruled out a set of active speakers like the Audioengine A5+ since they could actually probably fill my needs on their own. I was just thinking passive because there seem to be more options out there.

[spwath]

There are a knowledgeable people on Head-Fi, but there are also a bunch of snobs which is pretty stupid in my opinion. I spent 10 years playing music in very competetive orchestras and the idea of spending thousands to try to recreate that sound just doesn't resonate with me.

 

LOL, I haven't ruled out a set of active speakers like the Audioengine A5+ since they could actually probably fill my needs on their own. I was just thinking passive because there seem to be more options out there.

yeah LTT seems to have a pretty good (but small) audio comunity.

 

Yeah there are plenty of passive speakers out there.

Especialy used on places like craigslist, there are great deals

[LemonCheek]

There are a knowledgeable people on Head-Fi, but there are also a bunch of snobs which is pretty stupid in my opinion. I spent 10 years playing music in very competetive orchestras and the idea of spending thousands to try to recreate that sound just doesn't resonate with me.

 

The only user I actually trust is MadLustEnvy because he actually knows what he's talking about and updates his thread a fair lot. The rest? I mean, really... OT, but damn, there comes a point that paying beyond $400 for a DAC and Amp (separate or combo in one enclosure) hits hard already. But oh well...

[KaminKevCrew]

If you could do powered speakers, that would make this a whole lot easier...

[spwath]

If you could do powered speakers, that would make this a whole lot easier...

Easier, sure.

You might get better sound/$$ with passive though.

But he said he is open to powered speakers

 

 

 

 

 

LOL, I haven't ruled out a set of active speakers like the Audioengine A5+ since they could actually probably fill my needs on their own. I was just thinking passive because there seem to be more options out there.

[KaminKevCrew]

Easier, sure.

You might get better sound/$$ with passive though.

But he said he is open to powered speakers

Possibly, but I personally think that powered provides a better solution until you start talking about speakers that cost closer to $1,000 (at which point, the KEF LS50 are my favorite speakers for $1500....)

 

Anyway, @OP, this has the most I/O that I know of for $500 that's also in a pretty damn small form factor. https://emotiva.com/products/dacs/electronics/dacs/stealth-dc-1 (you can fit two side by side on a 1U rack, from what I've heard)

[spwath]

Possibly, but I personally think that powered provides a better solution until you start talking about speakers that cost closer to $1,000 (at which point, the KEF LS50 are my favorite speakers for $1500....)

 

Anyway, @OP, this has the most I/O that I know of for $500 that's also in a pretty damn small form factor. https://emotiva.com/products/dacs/electronics/dacs/stealth-dc-1 (you can fit two side by side on a 1U rack, from what I've heard)

Doesnt that not have passive speaker outputs?

And if you were using powered, you wouldent need that?

[Guest]

If found thise inline IR remote volume adjuster but have no idea as to the quality. You could pair that with a Fiio E03K DAC to take optical from the TV, and run it to a SMSL SA60, which has select-able dual inputs; one 3.5mm TRS and RCA. Cheap and kind of a hack solution, though.

 

Anyway, @OP, this has the most I/O that I know of for $500 that's also in a pretty damn small form factor. https://emotiva.com/products/dacs/electronics/dacs/stealth-dc-1 (you can fit two side by side on a 1U rack, from what I've heard)

 

That looks about perfect.

[KaminKevCrew]

Doesnt that not have passive speaker outputs?

And if you were using powered, you wouldent need that?

yeah, that's why shortly before I suggested it, I was talking about how I think that powered is better until you're going over a grand on your speakers.

[spwath]

yeah, that's why shortly before I suggested it, I was talking about how I think that powered is better until you're going over a grand on your speakers.

but for powered speakers, wouldn't you not need anything?

[KaminKevCrew]

but for powered speakers, wouldn't you not need anything?

depends on the speakers. I've never heard of a powered speaker that has an optical input. All powered speakers have (for the most part) is the speaker part and an amp, essentially, but they don't have a DAC. Also, most powered speakers don't have volume control (and if they do, it's usually on the back, which is a pain in the ass), which is why having an active pre amp is a good thing.

 

@OP, if you do go with the emotiva DAC thing, and get powered speakers, I would recommend getting speakers with XLR inputs. Mind you, it's not for any benefits from a sound perspective, but XLR cables are pretty cheap, the XLR is there on the emotiva, and will probably be there on the speakers, and XLR is the best connector for analog audio.

[Rmusic10891]

Possibly, but I personally think that powered provides a better solution until you start talking about speakers that cost closer to $1,000 (at which point, the KEF LS50 are my favorite speakers for $1500....)

 

Anyway, @OP, this has the most I/O that I know of for $500 that's also in a pretty damn small form factor. https://emotiva.com/products/dacs/electronics/dacs/stealth-dc-1 (you can fit two side by side on a 1U rack, from what I've heard)

 

This ticks boxes I didn't know I had. I'll have to do some more research on how it performs on a headphone amp, if it's halfway decent this is probably going in the shopping cart. It would eat into my speaker and TV budget, but I guess I can live with that. Any suggestions on speakers to pair with it in the $300-$400 range?

If found thise inline IR remote volume adjuster but have no idea as to the quality. You could pair that with a Fiio E03K DAC to take optical from the TV, and run it to a SMSL SA60, which has select-able dual inputs; one 3.5mm TRS and RCA. Cheap and kind of a hack solution, though.

 

 

That looks about perfect.

This is a creative solution and MCM are a great bunch of people. They're actually based not too far from where I live. I might order one of these just to play around with it.

[KaminKevCrew]

This ticks boxes I didn't know I had. I'll have to do some more research on how it performs on a headphone amp, if it's halfway decent this is probably going in the shopping cart. It would eat into my speaker and TV budget, but I guess I can live with that. Any suggestions on speakers to pair with it in the $300-$400 range?

This is a creative solution and MCM are a great bunch of people. They're actually based not too far from where I live. I might order one of these just to play around with it.

From what I've heard, the emotiva gear makes for pretty darn good headphone stuff. Only caveat to it is that all of emotivas gear uses 1/8" Jacks instead of 1/4".

[spwath]

From what I've heard, the emotiva gear makes for pretty darn good headphone stuff. Only caveat to it is that all of emotivas gear uses 1/8" Jacks instead of 1/4".

Does that really matter?

 

I mean, they are the same thing, and most headphones (or <400 ones) use 1/8. If not, 5$ adapterr