EDIT: PICS ADDED. Help shortlisting floorstanders, DACs and power amps - £3000 to £4000 total

[AlmaataKZ]

Oh, valves! I would love to have some! But have not been looking into those close enough yet. The ones with high-ish power and with remotes seem to be prohibitevely expensive. e.g. the likes of unison research. And difficult to find stokists+demos.

Since I bought my present system abt 10 years ago I have not followed the gear so a bit behind on what is available these days, so need help herding up the options.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Well, here is to illustrate the discussion. Black boxes - existing kit. Red - planned kit. Downside is lack of remote control over stereo volume and DAc power on/off. Also need to operate the amp switch manually.

A variation to the sketch is if the DAC does not hav volume control it can feed to the Teac and then to power amp. Then the amp switch is not needed but a 2 to 1 switch is needed. This way remote control over volume.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

and here is a pic of the existing setup.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

To sum up so far:



DACs shorlist:

(Make, bits/sampling, inputs, pre-amp, vol conrol, remote, - price)

Benchmark DAC1 HDR: 24/96, coax/optical/usb, pre-amp with volume control, remote - 2000

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/system1/digital-analog-converter/dac1-hdr

Beresford Cayman: ?/196, coax/optical/usb, pre amp with volume control, no remote - 200

http://www.homehifi.co.uk/products/Caiman.html

MF VDAC: 24/192, coax/optical/USB, no pre amp or volume control, no remote - 150

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DAC.asp

CA DacMagic: 24/192, coax/optical/USB, no pre amp or volume control, no remote - 300

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=320&Title=Summary

MGL MiniDacPre: 24/192, coax/optical/optional USB converter, pre amp with volume control, optional remote (+60) - 400

http://www.mglaudiolabs.com/en/products/symphonyseries/minidacpre.php

Firestone Audio Fubar 4+: 24/196, coax, optical, USB, pre amp, no RCAvolume control, no remote - 350

http://www.firestone-audio.eu/shop/products/allproductslisted/fubar4plus.php

Chordette Gem: 24/96, USB (or bluetooth) only, no pre amp or volume or remote - 350

http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/products_detail.asp?id=53

Question: will all or any of the ones that have pre amps will outperform the Teac's pre-amp?

Power amps longlist (more needed):

MF X cylinders or "bricks", second hand

Nad C275BEE

Krell FPB200, second hand

ATC P1

Speakers shortlist (more needed)

KEF XQ40 (or 30) - 2500/1500
Sonus Faber Toy Tower - 1600

 

[John Duncan]

ooo that's my telly.

 

[basshound]

AlmaataKZ:Modded for what? additional controls e.g. remote or do you mean something for sound quality improvements? I thought it was already top notch for its price.

The mod changes components for better quality ones that increase performance,have a look at www.audioupgrades.co.uk for more info.The Caimen is very good value at it`s price point but spend around £270 on mods and you have a dac that can compete with "off the shelf" models that cost quite a bit more, maybe even double the cost.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

thanks, sounds interesting, will check it out.

 

[PJPro]

AlmaataKZ:
and here is a pic of the existing setup.


Looks like you have a whole village of Pontipines and Wottingers living in your front room!

 

[AlmaataKZ]

these are to emphasise the scale of the sound ;-)

 

[mickeycomms]

POST MODERATED: no advertising - MODS

 

[Anonymous]

What,s the little horn, is it a trumpet, i,ve played with quite a few trumpet players but never seen one that small before

 

[chebby]

johnnyjazz:What,s the little horn, is it a trumpet, i,ve played with quite a few trumpet players but never seen one that small before

Piccolo trumpet?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks chebby, would imagine it sounds pretty high pitched