Advice on amp for stereo with streaming and TV-sound

[MagnusPloug]

Hi all,

This is my first post here and combined with being a HiFi newbee thingst might be less than perfect question wise - let me know and I will do my best to ask a question giving optimal conditions for insightful comments. I have been reading various post on what to include in this sort of question

We are a three kids family moving into our new one storage house. We would like a stereo system as we dont have anything else than our phones for music. We live in Denmark, but have converted prices to US dollar.

We have a 35m2 living room with high ceilings. We want a dedicated stereo system to be used for music and to have the television sound through it also. The television sound is a nice-to-have - the music is the more important - so we are not considering AVR. We have settled on a 2 floorstanding speaker system but needs help in finding the right amp.

music taste: jass, classical/opera, rock/pop. No dance or electronic.

use/volume: Listening in solitude or with guests - no super large parties planned

music source: spotify premium (in the future a turntable might be coming, so the amp needs this possibility or the possibility to add a seperate RIAA in the future)

speakers: We will likely buy either Dali Oberon 7 or Triangle Borea BR08 (both around 1500 USD)

budget (for the amp): around 2,000 USD

Internet connection: at the momen WiFi - no Ethernet (this might change)

What we would like:

• Possible to run the TV-sound through​
• user friendly meaning that only one remote needed for a specific tas
  

  • when using it for TV-sound the amp should be turned on and the volumen needs to be controlled by the TV-remote.​
  • when listening to music everything controlled by one remote (being phone or "physical") - so if having seperate units still only one remote.​
• not to compromise too much on sound quality
• Streaming from Spotify
• possiblity of phono (possibly as a seperate RIAA)

We are in doubt as to how we get the most of our around 2000 bucks (or if we would get to a completely differnt level by rasing with a few hundreds) .

Would it be on an integrated compact amp having it all like the NAD700 (1800 USD) or Lyngdorft TDAI-1120 (2150 USD) or would we get better sound quality with equal ease of use combing and amp with a streamer like CXA81 (1400 USD) +Bluesound node N130 (600 USD). Are there any thing we are mising or not understanding as the HiFi novices we are.

We have been foucusiong on the inclusion of a streamin device - considering that we at the moment have only WiFi does this makes sence or would a amplifier with bluetooth be just as fine and convinient?

Best regards

Magnus

 

[daytona600]

Rose RS201

HiFi Rose RS201E Media Player Review - ecoustics.com

 

[iMark]

I would have a look at an integrated stereo network receiver. With your budget why not try the Yamaha R-N803?

We use the Yamaha R-N602 as the heart of our system. We listen to LPs, watch TV, stream Airplay etc. Incredibly convenient and great value for money.

 

[MagnusPloug]

Thank you (iMark and daytona600) very much for your suggestions. Both have been on my path so far but found the others (based on reviews) a better match.

But for sure - the idea here is to get a few ideas and then go auditioning them before buying.

I think breaking the question to its essential is:

How much does sound quality improve when spending a fixed amount on an integrated amp with streamer vs spending the same fixed amount on an integrated amb + a seperate streamer.
eg.
What is the advantage/disadvantage in terms of sound and "ease of use" of CXA81+bluesound node compared to the Lyngdorft TDAI-1120 at roughly the same total cost.

Magnus