Wich amp for Squeezebox Duet + DacMagic + Energy Take classic 5.1

[julhios]

Hi,

I'd like to have a good sound for music but I don't know much how to setup my audio system... I currently have the following items at home:
Netgear 2 Ultra plus + Squeezebox Duet + DacMagic + Energy Take classic 5.1 speaker.

1) Which Pre-amp / power amp do you recommend please?
2) Also, do I need a Receiver instead? Sorry, this may be a dummy question.

Thanks for your help!

[Soulkeeper]

1) AFAIU, your Energy Take system is active, meaning you shouldn't need a power amp.

2) The Squeezebox Receiver is half of the Squeezebox Duet package. The other half is the Squeezebox Controller. Or did you mean an AV receiver?

[Daverz]

1) AFAIU, your Energy Take system is active, meaning you shouldn't need a power amp.

The subwoofer is powered, but according to the Energy website:

Sensitivity: 89dB
Power Handling: Sat & Center: 100 Watts; Subwoofer: 200 Watts
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 - 100 Watts RMS (Continuous)
Impedance: 8-ohm compatible

For surround sound, you'll need an AV receiver to power all the speakers. For stereo, you'll need a stereo receiver, integrated amp, or pre-amp + power amp.

[julhios]

Thanks for your replies.

I also have a Squeezebox receiver - sorry, i didn't mention that.

Actually, I'm not that much interested in the surround sound. I would prefer focusing on the stereo sound so don't really bother to use the 5.1 speaker for now.

How would you setup your system? Would you go with an integrated amp or pre-amp + power amp? My budget is $700 max.

[Soulkeeper]

Would you go with an integrated amp or pre-amp + power amp? My budget is $700 max.

On that budget, I would start out by looking at integrated amps if I were you. But I have no idea what particular offers you're going to find, so ...

[Daverz]

Probably the most bang for your buck is a used integrated amp:

Solid state integrateds on Audiogon

[julhios]

Thanks.

If we ignore my budget limit for now..

1) What pre-amp and power amp do you recommend?
2) Is it better to use Duet + DacMagic + Pre-amp + power amp + 2 speakers or Duet + DacMagic + power amp + 2 speakers?

Thanks

[julhios]

Hi,

After reading many posts, i understand that matching my current config all together is not ideal to listen music.

Would it be a good idea to buy an amp + bookshelves speakers to complete my current audio system (squeeze box + dac magic) and also buy a separate AVR for my TV+DVD player?

Thanks for your help.

[Mnyb]

For most effective use of money you need "better" speakers before you need a pre power amp combo, the integrated amp is very very cost effective you have to use some of the more power hungry inefficient hard drive and large speakers on the market to really benefit .

If Energy has done their homework this speakers should be possible to drive with good quality AV gear and get almost all of what they can give you

The performance off the modern AV reciever should not be sneezed at nowadays, there was a time when they where truly awful nowadays they are "OK" imho , but not high end sublime if get me, and demanding speakers knock them over easily but under the rigth circumstance their ok.

Another approach is active speakers

[julhios]

Thanks Mnyb!

To have "better speakers", I've seen good reviews on the aviano 2. Which power amp to I need to use them with the squeezebox+dacmagic? Is it a good choice?

I will also try to buy an AV receiver to plug between my DVD player and ETC 5.1.

Any suggestions/comments are welcome

[Mnyb]

I'm not at all familiar with that speaker, but you are on the rigth track first listen to a lot of speakers chose a pair you like and that fits your budget, then chose a suitable amp.

what i sarcastically ment by " better " was that some manufacturers sometimes sacrife what we can call " easy to drive by a normal amplifier factor" to reach some obscure goal not seing the whole picture that amp and speakers perform together.

so chose your speaker first then you can try that speaker with different amps to see how much it matters for the total performance, for example some speakers needs a lot of power to perform some is happy with less in such case a high quality integrated amp with not that much power would bo suficient.
another speaker may need > 200w at 4 ohm to come to life ( like the dynadios i used to own) in such case a preamp and power amp is needed.

the total cost can actually be higher with a hard to drive speaker that is relatively inexpensive because you have to get expensive quality amps.
You can see "Audio quality" and power as two factors that has an impact on the amps price.

I can not really recomend hardware, I have not heard everything. But a brand that always catch my atention re power amps is Bryston it is an Canadian brand with an unique comitment to quality and non voodoo enginered designs I have no clue to what they will sound but Engineering and Quality alone would make me interested if I was shopping for amps ( 20 years warranty ).

Much high end " engineering " is questianable and expensive for no good reason beware use common sense

[Labarum]

Hi,

I'd like to have a good sound for music

You have not given us enough information, Julhios.

You have a Squeezebox Streamer and a stand-alone DAC which will give you a high quality analogue output; but your active speakers are very poor.

You need better active speakers (a very attractive solution) or an amplifier and speakers. You don't say if there are size limits on the speakers or if they need to have a particular domestic style. You say two channel stereo is fine (and that could mean two small speakers supported by a sub.)

Here is a basic solution

Any of these

https://www.ripcaster.co.uk/node/244

Or go to a tech music shop and listen to

http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_b2030a_truth_aktivmonitor.htm

and its big brother

http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_b2031a_truth_aktivmonitor.htm

or a whole host of similar "Studio Monitors" some quite expensive

Here

http://explore.dolphinmusic.co.uk/search?p=Q&w=studio+monitor

The Genelec range is well thought of and sits in the longe better than most

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/genelec-8030a-nearfield-monitor-in-black--22483

http://www.genelec.com/products/?c=united%20kingdom

Available in black and white.



These look more domestic:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/6121

All small active speakers which will take an analogue input from your Squeezebox of DAC, though some have their own internal DAC.

Sometimes these products are priced for one and sometime for two - so look carefully.

These products are interesting, though may be too expensive

http://www.avihifi.co.uk/

or these

http://www.adam-audio.com/en/multimedia/products

http://www.adam-audio.com/en/home-audio/products

Some of these active monitors have matching subs which you could add later.

Or, as said, you buy a conventional pair of speakers and a suitable amp.

Here is a Rolls Royce solution

http://www.harbeth.co.uk/uk/preview.php?section=products&page=p3esr&model=P3ESR

http://www.stereophile.com/content/harbeth-p3esr-loudspeaker-page-2

Or its big brothers.

Supported by a carefully chosen quality amp. That will break your budget, but if you are a music lover . . .

You have to go and listen an decide what works for you and what fits in the room, and how much you can spend.

Enough from me, but there is a start.

[julhios]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your help, I've finally chosen to go with the AV receiver Marantz 6005 for now and use my existing Energy Take Classic 5.1

I may buy stereo speakers later...

Thanks again for your help! It's great to have experts advice!

Cheers,