New speakers, how to proceed? DAC/amp

[coffeed]

Just bought a used set of System Audio Mantra 60 speakers and need to do something about the rest of my setup. I heard the Mantras a while ago in a store with a good setup, so I know what they can sound like, and would like to start making the journey there... They do sound surprisingly good with what I happen to have, which is an Onkyo Tx-NR509 (an AV-receiver) and playback from a mac with amarra hifi, but of course nothing like I know they can. I don't have a DAC - except the one in my mac. I have my heart set on the Arcam irDac, and don't really know what to do amp-wise. Would it be completely ridiculous to buy the irDac now, pair it with the old AV-receiver for a while and wait with the amp upgrade for later? The price of the irDac is the most I can spend right now...

So in other words, DAC or amp first in this situation?

 

[coffeed]

Thought I would just rephrase this

Do you think the internal DAC in my Macbook pro or the Onkyo Tx-NR509 AV-receiver (6 x 130W at 6 ohm) is the weakest link in the setup?

I know both will need an upgrade down the line, but can't do everything at once...

Many thanks.

 

[Kefref]

If it was me i would definately upgrade the amplification first. Get rid of the a/v amp, and go for a good quality stereo amplifier that will have enough power to comfortably drive your speakers. They will take up to 150w of amplification, but quality is more important than quantity.

I feel that an A/V amp will never really do those speakers justice.

What sort of budget are we talking?

 

[coffeed]

At the moment around £400 is the most I can throw at it, but I could also not do anything right now and get DAC and amp at around £1000 in total a little later on. I don't mind buying used, perhaps especially when it comes to the amp (based on reading alone, nothing seems to quite rival the Arcam irdac in this price tier and I doubt I can find that used yet). As for amp, I find it a difficult market to get a take on. I don't really know what to look for to be honest. Any suggestions for this type of speaker? If used, I should be able to get something that matches the speakers for £600, right?

Many thanks for the help!

 

[Kefref]

At the moment around £400 is the myost I can throw at it, but I could also not do anything right now and get DAC and amp at around £1000 in total a little later on. I don't mind buying used, perhaps especially when it comes to the amp (based on reading alone, nothing seems to quite rival the Arcam irdac in this price tier and I doubt I can find that used yet). As for amp, I find it a difficult market to get a take on. I don't really know what to look for to be honest. Any suggestions for this type of speaker? If used, I should be able to get something that matches the speakers for £600, right?

Many thanks for the help!

For £600 you could get a Roksan Kandy K2 Amp brand new from richer sounds, £500 exdem, or £400 2nd hand dont think you would go far wrong at that. Read some pretty good reviews on it, it kicks out a good 125w into 8ohm.

Id be looking at something along those lines and budget, maybe someone who knows your speakers a bit better could offer some better advice with amp matching, but thats the sort of budget id be aiming for at least so you are not dissapointed.

 

[coffeed]

It's been a while since I asked this question, and I've used the setup I mentioned for quite with a few patchy solutions: A dragonfly dac and using a pre-amp, which improved things quite a bit.

Now I have the Cambridge CXA80 on loan, it's a dac and 80 w stereo amp in one. It is of course a great improvement. I love the sound in relatively simple songs, singer/songwriter type stuff, but when playing more complex stuff it gets a bit more muddy.

Two questions:

Is this because 80 W is on the low side for these spearkers?

Do you have any suggestions for alternatives roughly within the same price tier?

 

[davedotco]

And cheap amplifiers do not, generally go well. Particularly if you are unable to give the speakers the space they need,

Control rather than pure power is the issue, all those bass drivers flapping about when you turn up the volume is the problem.

I am a bit old fashioned but I would not normally pair £1500+ (approx UK) floorstanding speakers with any amplifier costing less than the speakers. That's way over your budget so buy the best used amplifier you can find.

If you need a dac, buy a cheap usb model, Behringer at £25, Schiit at £90 and a fair few in between.