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Amp/Preamp Asylum: Digital amps vs. old but good SS stack by Jon T Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
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Haven't read or posted much here in the last few years -- life has a tendency to interfere with audio -- but I was hoping I could ask you guys for some advice. Recently, more and more of my listening has moved from CD/SACD disks to streamed lossless files, for the convenience if not the absolute quality. I use a squeezebox streamed from my computer, which is OK, but needs a better DAC.
I'm debating between adding a DAC to my existing system versus getting one of the new digital amps (e.g. NAD M5 or TacT 2150). My current system is an old but good SS stack: a Plinius M16 line stage connected to a Plinius SA-50mkIII amp. My speakers are fairly sensitive Silverlines, so I don't need a lot of power.
Is there any consensus about the sound quality of digital amps compared to a conventional SS setup? All the reviews of both the NAD and the TacT are glowing, but then 95% of audio reviews are positive... The all-digital route would be a little more costly than just buying a DAC, but the appeal of having just one box is undeniable. OTOH, if it's going to be a step down quality wise, then I'd rather just stick with a system that I know and like. I'm not necessarily looking for room correction right now, but might in the future with either a separate processor or using software on my music server.
To be specific, I'm really only interested in the pure-digital amps out there -- i.e. the ones that do the PCM -> PWM conversion using DSP -- not the many class-D and tripath based amps that take analog input. I'm sure there are great examples of the latter, but it would still require a separate DAC in my setup.
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Topic - Digital amps vs. old but good SS stack - Jon T 11:07:49 11/5/10 ( 8)
- RE: Digital amps vs. old but good SS stack - jimmycj 14:41:05 11/7/10 ( 0)
You should sell them... - Bigromano 03:05:34 11/6/10 ( 0)
RE: Keep what you have!! (nt) - benie 19:05:10 11/5/10 ( 0)
Another "keep it" vote - E-Stat 17:14:14 11/5/10 ( 0)
Keep what you have.... and buy a DAC - AbeCollins 15:38:53 11/5/10 ( 3)
- +1 Keep what you have.... and buy a DAC - Vic D 10:26:27 11/12/10 ( 0)
Was just going to mention Peachtree. - Prisoners 10:46:48 11/6/10 ( 0)
Agreed - mbnx01 17:12:28 11/5/10 ( 0)