Amp with built-in DAC

[Fulci]

Try to get a listen to a Hegel H80, great amp with great DAC. Otherwise, you can get a good amp and a good dac for that kind of money.

 

[Andrewjvt]

I think he would struggle to find hegel in cape town

 

[jipsom]

OP: what speakers do you have? Music type and room size?

Sorry for delay. Looooong weekend.

Current system comprises Roksan Kandy 3, MA GX50s (just like the guy recommending the CXA80. Interesting...) and an REL Quake to thicken up the bottom end. My room is an annoyingly echoey 20 feet square with high ceilings. Fairly well damped.

I should mention that I have a lot of things to plug in and that's part of my reason for wanting a digital savvy amp. The NAD 390DD has also been brought to my attention.

 

[rainsoothe]

then +1 for Quad Vena, CA CXA80 and, if you can stretch to it, Hegel H80. Or, if you wanna keep your K3, add a Micromega MyDac to it - it's just 1 more plug after all.

 

[jipsom]

I'm not sure the Quad or Cambridge are going to be an upgrade to my Roksan. Perhaps the CXN is an option...but I'm really after a better amp than my Roksan with a DAC.

 

[jipsom]

The Cambridge CXN with a power amp...could answer all my problems. It gives me the connections I desire. And I can use it with my Roksan until I've saved up enough to buy a sweet power amp 🙂

This feels like a moment of lucidity for me.

 

[rainsoothe]

I'm not sure the Quad or Cambridge are going to be an upgrade to my Roksan. Perhaps the CXN is an option...but I'm really after a better amp than my Roksan with a DAC.

well you're not gonna upgrade over a K3 with 1000 pound budget 😛

A CXN will also serve as a streamer, which will elliminate the need for a laptop. If you still wanna be using your laptop as a main source, imo money will be better spent on a Chord Hugo, or Qute HD (or whatever the cheaper version is called, if it has USB). Otherwise, maybe get a nice cheap dac like Micromega MyDac and save moneys for a Hegel H160 - which does DAC and streaming too - this is what I would do.

 

[jipsom]

I'm not sure the Quad or Cambridge are going to be an upgrade to my Roksan. Perhaps the CXN is an option...but I'm really after a better amp than my Roksan with a DAC.

well you're not gonna upgrade over a K3 with 1000 pound budget 😛

A CXN will also serve as a streamer, which will elliminate the need for a laptop. If you still wanna be using your laptop as a main source, imo money will be better spent on a Chord Hugo, or Qute HD (or whatever the cheaper version is called, if it has USB). Otherwise, maybe get a nice cheap dac like Micromega MyDac and save moneys for a Hegel H160 - which does DAC and streaming too - this is what I would do.

Hmm. I see. Yeah, you're probably right. This is the problem with buying good amps second-hand: you have to spend so much to get an improvement. I already have a V-Dac connected to my laptop and my PS4. Plus my girlfriend has a streamer. I just want to tidy up the boxes & wires AND improve the sound. Looks like I need to save for the HEGEL. Good advice. I thank you 🙂

 

[johngw]

How about a DAC with volume control + remote and separate power amp? E.g. Matrix mini-i pro into a Quad 909 power amp. You should be able to pick up the Quad second hand and it's a great little amp.

 

[jipsom]

How about a DAC with volume control + remote and separate power amp? E.g. Matrix mini-i pro into a Quad 909 power amp. You should be able to pick up the Quad second hand and it's a great little amp.

John. Thanks for that suggestion. Been looking into it and I think that could be the winner. I'm in LA next month so the DAC is on the shopping lsit ($ vs £ wins again).

I have the opportunity to purchase two Quad monoblocks at a good price (which I assume will wire into the MTRIX Mini-i just the same). Will feedback my experience 🙂