Seting up a new system. Advices please!

[admin_exported]

Hello everyone

I´m planning on buying a new set up for my bedroom. I´ve been reading a lot about speakers, amps, dacs and every other kind of thing relating to a hi-fi system. But I don´t know exactly what to buy so I´m asking your help!

I have a budget around 1200 dollars for the complete package and I was planning to buy an Amplifier, a pair of bookshelf speakers and a DAC. My initial ideas on speakers were: JBL L830, Klipsch B-3, which cost around 330 dollars. But I´ve been thinking more and I thought it would be more intelligent to get, for example, a Klipsch RB-61 or a Polk A3, which are more expensive but would be more worth it!

About amplifiers, I´m a bit lost. What is the real importance of an amplifier in the whole set up? Does it trully make a difference in the final quality? I was thinking about the Cambridge Azur 340A SE, which is a budget amp. A friend of mine bought one and he said it is a very good amp for the price it costs. Do you have other ideas? Is it better to spend more money on an amp or on speakers? And another question, what do you think about receivers? The sound quality is really worse than an integrated amp?

And about the DAC. My friend got the DacMagic and told me it is great! I just can´t wait to listen to that cd quality again. It is very important to have one, right? And what models? I didn´t want to spend a lot of money on it!

Just one more thing, do you know any 2.1 amps? It would be nice to have the option the plug in a subwoofer. Please send your ideas! It would help a looot! Thanks everyone

 

[matthewpiano]

For budget amps you can't beat NAD. They always have plenty of drive and, tonally, don't sound like a budget amp at all. A C315BEE would make an excellent purchase and is capable of driving speakers well outside of its price class. Add a Musical Fidelity V-DAC and some Dali Lektor 2 speakers with some decent cabling and stands, and you'll have a cracking little system. Just make sure that you use decent quality files on your computer - Apple Lossless, FLAC, or similar.

 

[Anonymous]

Since you mention a bedroom I'm picturing a smaller sized room without much free space and air volume. I'd recommend you go with Tannoy Mercury F1 Custom (around 110 pounds) or Wharfedale Diamond 6.0/6.1.

About the amp, I'm in love with my recently purchased Rotel ra-04 (around 250 pounds), but I wouldn't recommend it for a bedroom because I imagine you'd want to operate it with a remote and it doesn't have one, so maybe consider the ra-05. I haven't heard any newer NADs so I can't comment on that, but they are regarded as superb entry level amps.

About the subwoofer. Most of the amps you'd consider in your budget have preamp-out rca connectors so you can plug in an active sub later.

I don't know how big that room is, if there's not much free space save some money on speaker power and put it in a better source.

 

[Anonymous]

I read some RA-04 reviews now and it seems very very good. And it is much cheaper than itïs brother RA-05 simply because it doesnït have a remote. Who cares?

But do you know a good online store where I can find it? I looked down in Amazon.com, BH, and some others but didnït find it.

My room is not so small, but the idea of spending more on the source looks really smart. Iïm gonna find out more about good amps.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, Amazon doesn't sell it. I don't buy equipment online, so I can't help you with that. And please don't make a purchase before hearing something first.

For your info I use the ra-04 in the bedroom too. But it's not a real bedroom, because I live alone, so I can stack up equipment as much as I want (or as much as my wallet permits). In the same room I have 2 computers on which I work and the amp is connected to both of them and is within arm's reach, so lack of remote is not a problem. Anyway the room is relatively small but without much furniture.

So on to the speakers, the amp drives a pair of MS 904is which are floorstanders and require some clearance around them. I know these don't sound at their best here and something smaller will sound better because most of the time I'm listening too close to them. I've heard the same amp perform coupled with the Tannoy F1s and it sounded superb even in a much larger room.

The ra-04 is the most realistic sounding piece of equipment I've owned, but I mostly listen to all sorts of rock, maybe for someone else it's something else.

Maybe with your budget it's worth spending a bit more on the amp. So consider some NAD or maybe a Marantz 6002.

I haven't auditioned many CD players and tuners, happy owner of a Marantz CD5003, a few CDs and a huge MP3/Apple lossless collection.

In the end it all depends on your musical preferences, how you want your music delivered, how much space you have and if looks matter to you. I'm sure you can come up with a great combination with your budget.

So you should go out and hear/see some products before you make more serous decisions about buying.

 

[the record spot]

I takeit you're in the US or Canada? Klipsch have a new range out (which you mentioned with your RB61) and they look impressive, but it might be worth seeing if you can hear them.

Not sure what other brands you have available to you, but what is the hifi retail market like in your part of the world? If you are close to a good dealer, see what he recommends for your budget and try, if you can, to audition.

Marantz, NAD, Rotel....also see what used kit you might find as your money will go further.

 

[link]

NAD 326bee has subwoofer out as you are looking for one. it got 5 stars here and said to be the best bang for your buck at that price range. then add wharfedale diamond 9.1. and a dacmagic or beresford 7520.

 

[Anonymous]

Alright. So I got some winners here.

I have decided to buy the DacMagic, along with the NAD 326BEE.

Now the last problem. I have three good options for speakers: Polk A3, JBL L830 and KEF IQ3! Which would fit better with my choices?

 

[Anonymous]

Forgot to mention the Klipsch B-3 Synergy! Please include that into the discussion!

 

[Anonymous]

One last option is the Klipsch RB-51, which I also forgot to mention!