Advice for upgrading to DAC system

[edwardpugh]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice with reagrds to moving into the world of DACs and digital music.

I bought my current system late 2000's: Cyrus 6vs Amp, Cyrus CD6se, Spendor S3e bookshelf speakers. Haven't used it much in the past few years due to new family but now looking to update and get back in the game!

I want to keep my CD player and speakers but change the amp and add a DAC.

What would people suggest?

I've been recommended the Audiolab M-DAC and M-PWR combo so far...

Also if there's a good streaming option I could add - the Squeezebox has been mentioned to me as an option...

I want to make sure my new system is as 'future-proof' as possible at the moment so compatibility for HD sound is important.

Any recommendations would be grteatly appreciated!

Ed

 

[Esra]

The M-Dac is a really nice Dac but consider it is digital only and has no analogue inputs.I heard the M-Pwr myself and found them very good for their given specs with the M-dac, a little bit on the warmer side of neutral as nearly all audiolab stuff, specs are good enough for efficient and or small bookshelfs.

If you want future-proof i would look for something else as you don´t have analogue input with this setup.Consider Pio NP01 ex. as a streaming solution for NAS,I-Radio and spotify,DSD and other highres files streams.It has analogue out.Maybe you are better off with such a solution and can choose a integrated amp instead of the M-Dac/Mpwr combo.You can always add a dac later if you have the need for more digital sources/inputs.

 

[rainsoothe]

hey

Hegel H80 gets nothing but good press and user reviews and hype, and it might actually be a great match for those speakers. Make sure you give that a try as well.

 

[ifor]

Budget?

Streamer could be a Raspberry Pi c/w HiFiBerry DAC running Rune Audio or Volumio software. It's well received by Squeezebox users. When you're ready you could replace the HiFiBerry DAC with a HiFiBerry Digi to feed an off board DAC of any budget. I currently use an Arcam rDAC, but in time will probably replace it with a Graham Slee Majestic DAC preamplifier.

you could check out the HiFiBerry, Rune Audio, Volumio and Graham Slee websites and fora.

with the Pi + HiFiBerry DAC you're started at about £60 and it'll sound very, very good ( if you like your Cyrus amp).

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi rainsoothe

+1

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft