kind of Newbie to HiFi, input on new System /Amp, etc.
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| Posted on May 23, 2016 at 23:57:39 | ||
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Posts: 56
Location: Greater Seattle Area Joined: February 24, 2016 |
Hello my compatriots, I've been into Guitars, guitar amps, etc. and car audio for quite a while. So I have a decent knowledge base and ear, but there seems to be ever more snake oil and choices here in HiFi then I'd dare to think of before. I have largely new speaker array and am looking to upgrade Integrated Amp or Pre Amp Power Amp combo from my 1990s Analog Japan Amps like my Sony and Pioneer, which I'm decently happy with as is (especially compare to Marantz SR5010 which is super sterile). New speaker wire, internal wire, Crossover, Interconnects, Digital Interconnect, Add On Blue Tooth unit (with built in DAC if new amp lacks one), Binding posts, RCA plugs and Hi Def/Res Music player, etc. I have 5 price range groups for Used Integrated Amps or Pre Amp Power Amp Combos together price wise. Group #1: $1,200-$800, #2: $750-$600, #3: $550-400, #4: $350 and under. Ideal range is $800-$250 but left room for an Unit thats head and shoulders above other Units in lower range just in case. 2-5 Amps/Combos per group woud be nice unless there's a definitive clear cut winner in your opinion for what I'm after. I'll start with the sound qualities in order of importance that I'm after, then some prefered parameters for Amps, etc. These apply to every part of system as far as desired sound qualities. Largest, 3D Holographic Sound stage Musical with rich harmonics that's warm, natural and balanced. Excells at: Female Voices, all types of Guitars, Strings, Pianos, Horns, Bass Guitar, Ethnic String Instruments, Male Voices, Electronica/Keyboards in that order, especially 1st 5-6 instruments. Drums, etc. not much of a concern. I listen to a wide variety of music. 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, '00s Rock n Roll, Classic Rock, Blues Rock, Heavy/Prog Rock/Metal like Tool and Alice in Chains, Grunge, Alt Rock, Blues, Soul/RnB/Choirs, Multi National Folk/Ethnic, US-UK-French-Gypsy Jazz, Old and Modern Influenced Balkan and Gypsy Music, some Middle Eastern influenced music, EDM/Pop from Broods and Melanie Martinez to Rihanna, Hip Hop, some Opera/Classic like Katherine Jenkins, Acoustic based music of many types from Katie Melua to Ani DiFranco to Delta Rae. I especially listen to female singers, a lot from the UK and its Crown nations as well as those from the Americas. Just a basis for my tastes. Conveys emotions very well, a very "Soulful" sound if you will. Definitely prefer more analog and Tube/Valve type sound to sterile Digital Sound. Excellent Frequency Respons, example of 15Hz-100KHz. Good background/black background noise level Good Transients/Solid Dynamics 1st 4 are main aspects of overall sound, most important to me. Best possible in my price range, but not over matching my speakers and source material by a large amount, as it would be a waste. Some brands I've considered are Rega and Roksan. It will be for USA voltages and use, or if there's other source voltage level units that exceed the USA only units that can be switched or converted easily and cheaply are options as well. Some specifics about amp I'd prefer it to have, 2nd to sound of course. Approximately 40-200 Watts RMS, ideal around 60-100 Watts RMS per channel. 8-16 Ohms, if it can handle 4 ohms as well is a bonus. I would prefer a solid to excellent built in DAC Or a opinions on Add On Bluetooth Receivers with good built in DAC under $200, prefer used price closer to $100 +/-. 3-5 RCA Inputs not including Phono, prefer if there's 1 on front or a 1/8 or 1/4 inch input on front for Cell/Portable Digital music player. 1-2 RCA Outputs, hopefully 1 Digital Music Signal Input for TV. (I have no idea about Digital Connections or if Digital Optical can be run into standard RCA inputs) Maybe Tube/Valve Pre Amp section Would be great if there's at least 1, ideally 3 or 4 remote power on/off female plugs on the back. Next is Interconnects... I'm looking at the Belden Microphone Cable and no idea of RCA plugs via PCX, several Audio Quest Cables: Black Mamba II, Evergreen (a few others near price range), Kimber PBJ and Hero, DH Labs, Connex Silver, Pear Cable Cosc and Comice Silver. Maybe a few DIY as well. Most will be 1.5ft in length, 1 or 2 3ft-4ft in length cables. Either Bluetooth or around 12ft 1/8 inch to RCA or similar cable for Cell Phone/Digital Music and maybe a Hi-Rez/Def Music Player in the future. Digital/Optical Wire from Smart TV ti stereo, can also send bluetooth signal to Amp I think. Speaker Wire: Looking at the popular Vintage Western Electric 16 AWG wire, maybe 14 or 12 AWG with lengths needed and power. Kimber 4VS, QED, Pear Cable. Lengts will be 12-17 feet for each side and will probably Bi Amp my woofers in same cab with 1 of 2 1990s Japan Amps and use old mids and X overs for front woofer and added rear facing Mids. So Options for both, but price is kind of limited with the lengths and my budget. Next is Internal Cab Wire for each speaker: There's alot of material, size, jacket, dielectric, etc type wires I'm considering other then regular speaker wire on its own. I'd like to optimize each driver's internal hookup wires. Whether its solid core, stranded, foil, silver, copper, plated copper, gold, etc or plain copper wire. Whatever will optimize each 1 for my desired sound. Tweet are Eton 19SD1, Mids Audax HM100Z0 4" Aerogel, Full Range Coaxial Vintage Alnico Electro Voice 12", 1990s Sony Paper Cone 12" Woofer and maybe 1990s Sony Paper Cone plastic dust cap 4" Mid mounted on back facing wall. Crossover Parts: I have a price range of $50-150 for each of 2 new Crossovers for all/just the parts. Design likely a Canadian/French or city named kind of after a major Wisconsin City, that doesn't factor into price. Will be a 3 or 4 way X over. Coil/Inductor type, Gauge, brand, etc that fits with all other parts and price range. Capacitors such as Mundorf and the like for desired sound traits. Resistors, don't know how or if they effect sound, but something of decent quality that gets sound/job done well. Solder (I prefer WBT Silver with Lead for guitar stuff), wire contact points for board, jumper wires, etc for X Over. Termination Posts and Cup for Speaker Cab, $20-65 or so for each of 2 Cabs. If my 1/4 plugs as example, solid copper is prefered as base metal for signal. Power Cables: I have no idea of quality of stock cables, but the IEC Red Copper HD/SD Power Cables from Mercury Magnetics are highly regarded for Guitar Tube amps and other musical gear. Good option or improvement for price over stock cables? For my level system, is adding a combo filter/surge protector worth while? Maybe Monster Power is decent enough? Does great job for guitar related stuff. Probably around $30-50 +/- range. Next up is info/input of Portable Hi-Rez/Def Music players... such as PONO, A&K and Sony. There's quite a range in prices, but not much on differences and quality of sound between the brands and models. Just looking for most reliable mostly, ease of use/design, matching similar level of sound quality to my system, memory, expandable memory and cost used. $300-150 range for those above or maybe others I'm not familiar with. A Bluetooth Receiver for Amp, best quality sound and built in DAC for my system and price, $200-100 or so range used or new. I know its a bit of a long question/post, but as I said there's a huge array of equipment, wires and snake oil to make entire sense of on my own with limited background in HiFi and want to make use of the knowledge and experience out there so I can get desired results without wasting my time and budget. Answer 1, 2, a few or all questions posed... it will all be considered. Thanks for your time and help.
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| What happens if the Schiit hits the fan?, posted on May 24, 2016 at 19:43:14 | |
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Posts: 46291
Location: USA Joined: June 22, 2001 Contributor Since: February 2, 2002 |
Sorry, I couldn't resist! 
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| Schiitt happens , posted on May 24, 2016 at 20:16:13 | |
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Posts: 8486
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area Joined: November 16, 2004 Contributor Since: May 23, 2023 |
Nt
Gsquared
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| the most important part, you didn't tell us! what are your speakers?? nt, posted on May 25, 2016 at 15:16:20 | |
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Posts: 2632
Location: Bremen Joined: October 22, 2003 |
nt
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| Hmmm. I always thought my CE316BEE was warm side of neutral, posted on May 26, 2016 at 12:49:39 | |
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Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area Joined: February 19, 2014 |
and punchy. Opus 33 1/3
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| RE: What happens if the Schiit hits the fan?, posted on May 27, 2016 at 19:37:06 | |
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Posts: 56
Location: Greater Seattle Area Joined: February 24, 2016 |
Lol
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