2. amps-preamps
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Dream Speakers = landed. Now I need to feed them!

So I scored a pair of Belle Klipsch (1987 models, AB crossover).  I would have gone for Khorns, but the room they were going in just wasn't going to work.  RIght now, I'm running a cheap little Sony (STR-DH190) stereo receiver on them, and even that sounds amazing, but I know I've barely scratched the surface of what they're capable of.  The dream is a pair of SET monoblocks (probably 300B type), though I'm worried about not being able to drive the bottom enough.  I listen to a wide array of music from classical and opera to extreme metal, though my wife is decidedly more of a rock person, so I definitely need something that will push those woofers proper. 

Due to lifestyle and logistics, a big piece of my source audio is going to be HQ feeds from my laptop via Bluetooth.  I know, not an ideal source, but until I build my HTPC, it's just going to have to work.  I also need to run optical out from my Sony Bravia (which I can't do right now because the receiver doesn't have optical in and the TV doesn't have analog out).  

Here's the hard part: Right now, I can't really spend more than $1k for the whole shebang.  So I started hunting.

At first I was sniffing around looking for a tube preamp that can handle both Bluetooth and Toslink, but all that seems to be out there are suspiciously cheap Chinese integrated amps that have no pre out for later use.  I also looked at some dedicated DAC's such as the Cambridge Audio DACMagic, that I knew I could pair with a BT-capable tube pre.  But I'm still sketchy about the cheap Chinese kit.  I've heard positive things about Dared, though, and I was thinking their 5BT would be a good foundation alongside the aforementioned DAC, because I could use its power stage for right now, and if I can't stay in the right now budget to get a good pair of monoblocks, then I could wait for a while and buy the right ones later. 

Thoughts? Opinions?  Alternative ideas?  


jerkface
jerkface OP
73 posts
 
@jbhiller 

As someone who witnessed the entire development of "prosumer" digital audio interfaces for recording purposes, I'd 100% agree.  DAC's from 25 years ago just didn't have the bandwidth, error correction, or even the dithering and noise shaping algorithms we have today.  I might be convinced to give a 25-year-old audiophile DAC a spin if I could pick one up at Goodwill for 5 bucks.  But $1500?  Nope.  Not a chance. 
5ap
21 posts
 
Enjoy the experience and don’t rush it.   Great speakers deserve both time and thought. 
perkadin's avatar
perkadin
286 posts
 
I’d also recommend the Willsenton R8. I think one of the YouTube reviewers did a video w the R8 and a pair of Klipsch speakers and loved the combo. I’m using it with a low sensitivity pair of Dynaudio monitors and it also sounds great. I can’t really think of anything that comes close at that price point. Shipped it will probably be a bit over budget, but well worth the price. Great resale value too. 
jerkface OP
73 posts
 
Enjoy the experience and don’t rush it.   Great speakers deserve both time and thought.

Once the Quicksilvers are in, that's exactly what I intend to do.  Relax and enjoy.  I've already got some upgraded interconnects coming in to solve that problem, though I am shopping around for some quality gold-plate spade ends (for the speaker side) in advance. 
jerkface OP
73 posts
 
Update: 

The Denon HEOS is working perfectly as a DAC right now, feeding into the Sony.  Detail and imaging on the Bluetooth signals and the optical from the TV (even doing Bluetooth casts from the laptop to the TV).  

Quicksilvers are on order, but he's running 3 weeks behind on delivery, so I don't expect to see them until the end of the month.  Will be interesting to see how the Denon functions in variable mode (right now it's set to fixed into the Sony) as a preamp.  

The most important part, though, as much as I'm drooling over getting the Quicksilver monos into the system, is that I, my wife, and all of our friends and family that have come over are marveling over the realism these speakers deliver.  Listening to music is a joyful thing, a communal thing, and there's no doubt the Belles have made the experience that much more joyful for us.  
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