Buying first speakers, DAC and AMP. Need help due to source quality.

[admin_exported]

Hey guys. I've a couple of mates who are into HiFi so I know the jist of things, but I'm by no means an expert.

I'm currently looking at buying my first HiFi set up. I've a lot of music in 320kbs and in flac on my computer, so that's what I'd like to source my music, (Please tell me if my plans are overkill or underkill for the quality of my music collection.) and I've around £300ish to spend, (I'm a student, although depending on brands I may be able to get some gear at a slightly discounted price also I'm not worried about buying used.)

From my PC, I've been looking at the Musical Fidelity V-DAC, it's had great reviews and seems like the best product at it's price. I've seen them for around £150.

Next, I'm stuck. Should I go with some powered monitors, (As I do a bit of music producing, but tbh would prefer a nicer listening experience if they're going to sound super hard and flat.) or an AMP and speakers?

I've already got an old Trio AMP at home that must have been top notch when it was new. How much difference does the quality of the AMP affect the sound? (Considering again that the original quality is 320kbs MP£s and flac files?)

Would it be worth just putting the £150 I've left into speakers and upgrading the AMP at a later date?

Overall the system has to go loud enough for multiple people to listen too, but I do live in student flats so doesn't need to be too overbearing. I'm currently using Logitech Z4s with a Behringer DAC/Midi controller, so I'm really looking for a big improvement over these/the other Logitech speaker systems.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Anonymous]

As for speakers I've been told to look for second hand Montior Audio Silvers, or B&W 602s.

What do you guys think about these?

Thanks.

 

[idc]

Your source of files at 320kbps is going to be fine. Even the most acute hearing audiophiles are finding it difficult when you get to 320kbps to tell the difference between that and lossless. I would look to expand your music once you go computer-fi by accessing online streaming services. The best IMO is Spotify and its premium rate streams at 320kbps. It uses Ogg Vorbis as its codec and the file type has as much of an effect on sound as the number of kbps in my experience.

There is a massive market for second hand hifi and many forum members are dedicated second hand buyers. I have no idea about your amp, but the V-DAC, your amp and second hand Monitor Audios or B&Ws sounds like a good way to go. How it actually sounds, well only you can judge. But, if you are going to do second hand, you can be a seller as well as a buyer, so anything you dont like goes back onto the market. Again, a number of forum members do that.

 

[Anonymous]

idc:
Your source of files at 320kbps is going to be fine. Even the most acute hearing audiophiles are finding it difficult when you get to 320kbps to tell the difference between that and lossless. I would look to expand your music once you go computer-fi by accessing online streaming services. The best IMO is Spotify and its premium rate streams at 320kbps. It uses Ogg Vorbis as its codec and the file type has as much of an effect on sound as the number of kbps in my experience.

You can if you've got a decent pair of headphones/speakers. Bass extends lower and treble extends higher. There is no audible difference for the midrange however if that's what you was referring to.

 

[Anonymous]

idc:
Your source of files at 320kbps is going to be fine. Even the most acute hearing audiophiles are finding it difficult when you get to 320kbps to tell the difference between that and lossless. I would look to expand your music once you go computer-fi by accessing online streaming services. The best IMO is Spotify and its premium rate streams at 320kbps. It uses Ogg Vorbis as its codec and the file type has as much of an effect on sound as the number of kbps in my experience.

There is a massive market for second hand hifi and many forum members are dedicated second hand buyers. I have no idea about your amp, but the V-DAC, your amp and second hand Monitor Audios or B&Ws sounds like a good way to go. How it actually sounds, well only you can judge. But, if you are going to do second hand, you can be a seller as well as a buyer, so anything you dont like goes back onto the market. Again, a number of forum members do that.

That's great then as most of my music has been ripped too 320kbs or more recently flac.

Yeah I'm not in any massive particular rush at the moment to buy it all now, so I was hoping to find a bargin on eBay. Am I right in presuming that, that DAC with my 320kbs MP3s would sound as good/better as spending the same price on a CD player and burning all my MP3s to CD?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi well my first question would be does the computer have an SPDIF connection? if not, then it would probably be easier to be a dac with a usb connection. I would be looking at trying to purchase Audioengine A5's second hand and a dac, either the V Dac you mentioned, or a Beresford, if the computer has the connection mentioned, it's an optical connection basically, then I would go for the Beresford dac.

Yes, it sounds very good indeed by going through an external dac route and you could even rip some of your cd's to lossless, see if you can hear the difference between 320 kbs and lossless. You can sit them on a desk but they will sound at their best, like any other speaker, when sat on sturdy stands. I would be looking for hi fi forums (without mentioning which one) they have an excellent classified section on there.

 

[Anonymous]

My 5c. If your computer is going to be your main source then cut out unnecessary boxes. You will get much more for your money. By that I mean use a set of active/powered speakers with built-in DAC, or put a DAC between you computer and a pair of actives, or if you have a good sound-card, consider analog out from your computer straight into a pair of active speakers.

Either way, with a pair of active speakers you'll get biamping (a dedicated power amp for each speaker driver), which is beneficial to sound reproduction, and it will cost you dearly if you try to achieve the same thing with separate boxes. Also, the amps are already chosen by the engineer to match perfectly with the drivers.

The professional market is exclusively using active speakers and you'll be surprised how much you can get for your money if you look in the right place. £300 will get you a long way. See for example DV247.

I'm a fan of Adam speakers and I note they have just released a new range - check out the Adam A5X for example which I think is within your budget. That should leave most traditional consumer "HiFi" amp/speaker combos in that price range for dead.

(I heard a pair of Adam P11A in a friend's studio and they blew me away - never heard anything like it. Since then I've been looking at my "traditional" setup of source, dac, integrated amp, passive speakers with contempt and wish I could start all over again...)