spreading the budget

I am not sure you are asking the right question but I get your drift.

In my ever so humble opinion you have to sort your system from the front end. Get your source right then work on the amplifier (please note this does not necessarily mean spending more money on the amp or the speakers for that matter).

I have heard some pretty expensive speakers that sound terrible on the end of the wrong amp.

Aim to get a quality amplifer and if that means spending more money on it than the speakers then so be it - get the amp wrong and it doesn't matter how expensive the speakers you hang off the end it will still sound rubbish!

Hope that sort of answers your question.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
thanks that does makes sense,

if im playing from an ipod will it be nessacery to get a DAC as well as an amp?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Carve:

thanks that does makes sense,

if im playing from an ipod will it be nessacery to get a DAC as well as an amp?

Not necessarily. a DAC may improve your sound quality depending on the quality of source files on your ipod and whether it is sonically better than the amps' DAC (if it has one!). If you are on a tight budget, there are a number of options like plugging your ipod into your amp directly via a cable (russ andrews perhaps) for an analogue input (using the ipod's built in DAC) or a dock to supply a digital source (like the Onkyo ND-S1) which allows your amp's DAC to do the conversion (and should sound better). It depends if you have a Hi-fi amp (analogue source inputs) or AV amp (analogue and digital source inputs) in mind.

Hope this helps.

Nick
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
i have no amp at the moment or speakers, im still doing the research before i spend any money but i think i will be looking at getting a hi fi amp.

my budget at the moment is still being debated with the missus
emotion-1.gif
, i may buy the amp or the speakers first then buy the other later if i dont have the cash, im basically after the best QUALITY sound i can get from my ipod which are 192kbps or higher.
 

eternaloptimist

New member
Mar 29, 2009
5
0
0
Visit site
Whatever you do, get a dock that bypasses the iPod's terrible internal DAC so that you are streaming the digital files to an external DAC (then into the amp) or a DAC built into the amp. If money is tight, you might want to look at integrated amps that have a built in DAC. Practically anything will sound better than the output from the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the iPod straight into an amp (whether you are using a generic cable, one made by Russ Andrews or one made by Santa!)

Good luck!
 

audioaffair

New member
Feb 21, 2009
100
0
0
Visit site
Carve - a good question. Generally speaking if you are going for a
separates system - either amplifier and speakers, or amplifier, CD
player and speakers to note the most popular two combinations, you'll
be spending roughly an even amount on each as part of a well suited
set-up.

Having said that there are those in the "source first" or
"speakers first" school of thought who might suggest its better to lean
on spending more on either of these areas to get the best from your
set-up. Generally speaking we've found the actual matching much more
important than the budget so its always useful speaking to a dealer for
advice.

If you're going for active speakers as a possibility
though you needn't consider the above as you'll be looking for the best
possible single pair of active speakers within budget. Those that include an iPod dock digital connection include the Aktimate Maxi and Aktimate Mini both of which are superb active speaker systems.

Have you shortlisted anything yet?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
If you are getting a DAC, try to see if the Microosft Zune works for you. It has digital optical out. I don't know if any Ipod Dock does digital out.
 

ID.

New member
Feb 22, 2010
207
1
0
Visit site
Carve:
im basically after the best QUALITY sound i can get from my ipod which are 192kbps or higher.

Then I'd recommend using a digital transport (i.e. an iPod dock like the abovementioned Onkyo ND-S1) and a DAC. AFAIK the best you can get from an iPod is 24bit/48 kHz, but iTunes running on a computer will support 24/192, but as there is relatively little music available at this resolution (or even at higher than CD resolution), I assume that most of your music will have been ripped from CDs so limited to CD resolution (16/44)
 

audioaffair

New member
Feb 21, 2009
100
0
0
Visit site
chebby:
Amplifier £795

Speakers £28

Chebby - there's always one
emotion-5.gif
Did you really pick those up for £28? If so, thats a cracking bargain! Having said that, considering their new price they are a much closer match to the amp.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
thanks for the replys

the only thing ive had in mind is the Fatman Carbon which has had a great right up in what hi fi Sep 08, but i was thinking of spending a bit more. It looks like i will be going DAC-AMP-Speakers.

what job does the Onkyo ND-S1 do from what i can gather its neither a dac or an amp?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Carve:

what job does the Onkyo ND-S1 do from what i can gather its neither a dac or an amp?

Most iPod docks output an analogue signal, i.e. the original digital file has already been processed by the iPod's on-board DAC. The Onkyo however outputs a digital signal by-passing the iPod's on-board DAC to allow the processing to be carried out by (hopefully) a more competent DAC, i.e. within the amp or a stand-alone component. Also, the Onkyo has a remote that allows you to control the iPod from the comfort of your own armchair (although I understand there are some track/info display issues).

Nick
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
thanks Nick, so if i were to for the Onkyo ND-S1 i would still need a DAC and an amp?
 

Andrew Everard

New member
May 30, 2007
1,878
2
0
Visit site
Yes, as the Onkyo dock takes a digital signal from the iPod. So assuming your amp doesn't have digital to analogue conversion built-in, you'll need a DAC between the dock and the amp.

The alternative is something like this, on the way early in the New Year, which would do away with the need for the Onkyo dock.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Carve:thanks Nick, so if i were to for the Onkyo ND-S1 i would still need a DAC and an amp?

As I said previously, you would only need a DAC if you were buying a 'hi-fi' amp (like the Fatman) which only accept Analogue inputs. If you bought a Home Cinema amp (like the Denon AVR 1910 for example), these already have a built in DAC and can accept a digital input. There appears to be another alternative suggested by Andrew also.

Hope this helps.

Nick
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts