New Member, Need Help

[admin_exported]

Hi, I am new to the forum and need some help understanding the basics.

- I have lot of music on my laptop / iphone and would like to have a high quality system to play the same.

- In my understanding that needs primarily 3 things:

(a) A receiver (preferably wireless) which can take this music using airplay or other mechanism and convert the same to analog using DAC.

(b) A amplifier

(c) Speakers to play the amplified analog output.

- In my brief reading so far I understand Pioneer N-50 to be able to do (a) & (b), and KEF R100 is a good option for (c).

Am I missing any piece ? Are these systems compatible for good output ?

Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Pioneer will do (a) but not (b) – you'll still need an amplifier.

 

[david_hardeman]

I recently bought an apple tv for streaming via airplay from itunes on my mac or iphone and it is excellent. I thinnk it may well be worth looking at for what you're intending to do.

I can throuroughly recommend it to anyone that's going to connect it to a DAC, or integrated amp and DAC like my Cyrus 8xpd. The sound quality is excellent and so is the usability.

 

[ifor]

I recently bought an apple tv for streaming via airplay from itunes on my mac or iphone and it is excellent. I thinnk it may well be worth looking at for what you're intending to do.

I can throuroughly recommend it to anyone that's going to connect it to a DAC, or integrated amp and DAC like my Cyrus 8xpd. The sound quality is excellent and so is the usability.

Be careful. I have found the ATV3 to be incompatible with an Arcam rDAC. The rDAC user manual claims it supports 48KHz, as put out by ATV3, but the rDAC service manual says it doesn't. In my experience the latter is correct.

The ATV3 works fine with the Musical Fidelity M-1 DAC and with the Cyrus 8Qx DAC that I'm just about to bundle into the car to return to Audio-T in Swindon; they loaned it to me for a few days.

 

[fayeanddavid]

I recently bought an apple tv for streaming via airplay from itunes on my mac or iphone and it is excellent. I thinnk it may well be worth looking at for what you're intending to do.

I can throuroughly recommend it to anyone that's going to connect it to a DAC, or integrated amp and DAC like my Cyrus 8xpd. The sound quality is excellent and so is the usability.

Be careful. I have found the ATV3 to be incompatible with an Arcam rDAC. The rDAC user manual claims it supports 48KHz, as put out by ATV3, but the rDAC service manual says it doesn't. In my experience the latter is correct.

The ATV3 works fine with the Musical Fidelity M-1 DAC and with the Cyrus 8Qx DAC that I'm just about to bundle into the car to return to Audio-T in Swindon; they loaned it to me for a few days.

Notwishing to hijack the thread however....................

Is this a recommendation for ATV3 and AirPlay, to out put via digital (not HDMI) to a DAC and then to an amp??

I currently have mine set up via HDMI to my avr, and I must admit the the AirPlay play back is nothing short of awful..................just thought that's the way it is??

 

[DandyCobalt]

Airplay depends on your wifi connection, so be prepared for your music to sound like a broken CD player (progress, huh?).

Tryy and hard-wire if possible.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mr. Everard. Would you have a recommendation for the amplifer, with the suggested combo (Pioneer N-50 & Keff R100). Or alternatively would you have a recommendation for any other combination.... think of me as a novice in this field who is looking for a reasonable solution around 1500 $.

Again thanks a lot.

 

[matthewpiano]

In this system of N50 and KEF R100 I'd suggest trying the Marantz PM6004 or, if you can stretch a bit further, the Arcam A18 makes a very good match with KEF.

 

[Anonymous]

Sure. What about the amplifier ?

 

[matthewpiano]

Hi, those are amplifiers I've suggested.

 

[ifor]

Notwishing to hijack the thread however....................

Is this a recommendation for ATV3 and AirPlay, to out put via digital (not HDMI) to a DAC and then to an amp??

I currently have mine set up via HDMI to my avr, and I must admit the the AirPlay play back is nothing short of awful..................just thought that's the way it is??

I agree 100% with the advice to avoid WiFi and use Ethernet. I use Devolo Homeplugs to make this possible. WiFi streaming is a non-starter with the thick walls I have.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, Some more reading and I understand that NAD C 390DD is a DAC that amplifies. i.e. does (a) and (b). Also it does it without converting the signal to analog, thus ensuring limited (or no) lag. Also understand that Mr. Everard has himself reviewed one and his review is extremely positive (coming in the next issue of Gramophone magazine).

With that as a background, the question to the knowledgeble memeber of forum is what speaker should this is paired with ?

Is KEF R 700 a good option ?

Thanks.

 

[toyota man]

Hi, Some more reading and I understand that NAD C 390DD is a DAC that amplifies. i.e. does (a) and (b). Also it does it without converting the signal to analog, thus ensuring limited (or no) lag. Also understand that Mr. Everard has himself reviewed one and his review is extremely positive (coming in the next issue of Gramophone magazine).

With that as a background, the question to the knowledgeble memeber of forum is what speaker should this is paired with ?

Is KEF R 700 a good option ?

Thanks.

the kef r700 are realy fantastic speakers the only problem I had with them is that they are quite big for my listening room 13 inchs deep 42 high 8 wide 325mm 1050mm 200mm approx but if size is no problem then go for it try before you buy though

 

[tino]

You've mentioned a budget of £1000 ($1500 USD) .. The NAD 390DD is probably too expensive.

In order to help people on this forumto help you can you give us some indication of what equipment you currently use to listen to your music e.g. headphones, computer speakers etc.

Do you place convenience over sound quality? Is Airplay / iTunes important or can you live with using the iPhone as a remote control only? Have you listened to all in one solutions like Sonus Play:5?