I am glad you went with the Vandies.(Being a Vandy Fanboy), and glad you met with Johnny. He is a great dealer and human being.
The Belles is great. I am surprised he didn't connect the Ayre amps.
I know you are on a budget, but if you can score a Belles or Ayre integrated used, you would be way ahead of the pack.
Another way to go is with McCormack, Steve McCormack runs Vandy's with his amps, so they make a good combo. Plus, you can have them upgraded.
As far a streaming goes, I auditioned the Ayre Codex at Audioconnection and have to say it is one heck of a DAC for the money, especially used.
Otherwise, I would suggest a Schiit Gungnir or Yggy. I own the Bifrost Multibit and Modi, but the Gungy is much better, though the others are no slouches considering how inexpensive they are.
Lastly, if you can get a system using balanced connectors, you will be doing yourself a favor. Balanced interconnects won't need to be as costly as RCA, since they hardly influence sound quality. (Ask Ralph at Atmasphere).
I am sure Johnny can recommend some AQ speaker cables. Actually, let me know if you can use some AQ Rockefeller, I have an extra 25 foot cable now that I moved to monoblocks. All you need to do is have AQ reterminate them- which Johnny can facilitate.
HTH
Bob
The Belles is great. I am surprised he didn't connect the Ayre amps.
I know you are on a budget, but if you can score a Belles or Ayre integrated used, you would be way ahead of the pack.
Another way to go is with McCormack, Steve McCormack runs Vandy's with his amps, so they make a good combo. Plus, you can have them upgraded.
As far a streaming goes, I auditioned the Ayre Codex at Audioconnection and have to say it is one heck of a DAC for the money, especially used.
Otherwise, I would suggest a Schiit Gungnir or Yggy. I own the Bifrost Multibit and Modi, but the Gungy is much better, though the others are no slouches considering how inexpensive they are.
Lastly, if you can get a system using balanced connectors, you will be doing yourself a favor. Balanced interconnects won't need to be as costly as RCA, since they hardly influence sound quality. (Ask Ralph at Atmasphere).
I am sure Johnny can recommend some AQ speaker cables. Actually, let me know if you can use some AQ Rockefeller, I have an extra 25 foot cable now that I moved to monoblocks. All you need to do is have AQ reterminate them- which Johnny can facilitate.
HTH
Bob