2. amps-preamps
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Picking an amplifier

I have the following speakers:
NHT 2.1 Front LR 200W @ 6ohms
NHT AC1 Center 150W @ 8 ohms
NHT SW2 Subwoofer 200W @ 8 ohms
The rear speakers are inconsequential (and boxed up) they might come out to play when I move to bigger digs.
I’ve been using NHTs 214s and 216s, (think lightbulbs) but the market is drying up. I remain unconvinced they are worth the shipping & costs to repair.
My (current) short list of replacement amps:
Outlaw Audio model 770 7 (7 channels)
Bryston 9B ST (5 channels) (2 years left on warranty)
Parasound 5125 (5 channels)
The budget is $1000, I have located sources for all three at or below $1000.
Any/all discussion of suitability, repair outlook, and peanut shells welcome. From a listening perspective, I've been fine with the NADs, but am priced out of the newer models. Nuts, I might even repair the NADs if I find the right person with the skills & tools.

shalmaneser
shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
I couldn't resist tossing in that $500 toslink. 
The debate is amazing. (don't bother clicking through all these links, the last one makes a comprehensive analysis.  I'm entertaining myself) 
Toslink VS RCA:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/toslink/toslink_2.html
If these guys are to be believed, bad Toslink cables are return-to-sender (dey be broke), but the rest are indistinguishable from RCA.
And yet.... 
Optical VS coax:
https://www.cnet.com/news/the-audiophiliac-asks-the-experts-do-digital-audio-connections-sound-diffe...
Then there are the diapers crowd (it DEPENDS)
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/digital-coax-vs-toslink-optical-need-answers.352889/
And finally, the it's the clocks trailing by an atomic clock carbon fibre second and Auxinput winning in a video tape reviewed victory: 
http://www.lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/TRANSPORT/CD_transport_DIY.html

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

Wow, that last link is some interesting stuff!  I'm glad to have my statements substantiated.  A couple quotes from that page that are interesting:

"the TOSLINK interface of red led is not fast enough"

"That square directly from Toslink receiver is bad bad bad. It is a miracle the DAC reads and understands this crap."

"TWEAKING OF A CD PLAYER to make it a killer transport...Changing the sockets from RCA to BNC or much better to XLR on both the transport and the DAC while changing the resistor from 75 Ohms to 110. "

I have also read feedback that BNC coax is highly superior to RCA coax.  That's a given.  However, many of our equipment is limited by RCA only connections. lol.  I have also read from a posting that the XLR AES/ABU interface is still not as good as a proper BNC COAX.  That was based on listening tests and well as some technical justification.  I can't remember what exactly they said.

It's proven that there are differences in digital COAX cable.  The solid-core silver or silver-plated cables are highly superior because the silver is able to charge/discharge much faster than just copper and it allows better accuracy in the extremely high speed digital square waveforms.  One cable I have heard is excellent is the DH Labs Silver Sonic D-750, but at $200 or so for a 2-meter cable, it can be above your budget.  I always recommend the Blue Jean Cable Beldon 1694A because it's an excellent digital cable for the money (much better than others if you don't want to spend much).  It's documented that 1.5 meter is the minimum/best length because shorter cables will cause signal reflections back to the transmitter and distort the waveforms.  I generally recommend 6 feet (which I use).

shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
Speaking of reflections & interference. We were developing RF communications on the bleeding edge. People were sending us stuff hot off their press. RF end-user communications was transitioning from RS-232 speeds to the current WIFI standards. We were demoing our receiving&inventory system for the first time. I was the programmer/analyst for the wireless stuff. The president of the company (a former NCR division director) came blasting out of the demo looking for me.
"IT DOESN’T WORK".
None of us ever said to him "It works for me." (more than once)
He handed me the unit.
Oh yeah, it worked.
He turns his favorite shade of red, it was a multi million dollar contract.
"Show me where you were standing while you were using it in the demo".
He should stop dealing directly with programmers. Bad for his blood pressure.
Yup. Right beside the base station. Inside the proscribed 2ft limit.

Looking at the Xonars, is this the chip you’re talking about? http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-Xonar-DS-7-1-Channels-PCI-Interface-Audio-Card-/222668212398?epid=79630...
I verified that I a free PCI slot on this MOBO. It might have been parked under one of the video cards (the two slot cards are awkward at times)
2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,543 posts
 
shalmanese- I have not watched "Two and a half men". The only programs I watch on TV is "Game of Thrones", "The Vikings" and old "Law and Order" episodes. But in between I do listen to alot of Jazz.
What does it all mean???

shalmaneser OP
62 posts
 
2psyop: It means you like your sex hot, your skulduggery and murder barbaric, and your courts liberal. Don’t know what to make of Vikings - don’t follow it. Does your mate wear armor & horns?

I’m beginning to see a theme in audiophiles: Jazz is about the tonality and fidelity - individually well played notes. Give them a pitch perfect voice, a couple of stringed instruments noodling along on their own, finishing together and an audiophile will follow you anywhere. I think seeing a live competitive marching band (Shadow Company forever!) would explode heads.

http://www.dci.org/
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