2. amps-preamps
  3. 131720-103887

Amp recommendation and setup advice please

Hello,

I love music and I adore quality sound - I cannot listen to music on ordinary speakers/devices.

I have been trying to do my research on sound systems/speakers/amps etc.. and learn/understand the whole shebang, but I'm not that much of a tech head. 

I want to buy the Klipsch RF-7 II tower speakers (I think they are passive, hence requiring an amp). 

I want them for both my new TV and also the vinyl/turntable setup I am going for, which is as follows:

Turntable - ProJect Debut Carbon Premium with Ortofon 2M RED (cartridge)
Phono (pre-amp) - ProJect Phono Box DS
Speakers - as above
Subwoofer - thinking either Klipsch R-12SW or R112SW
Amp - ??

I have a few questions:

1. Am I on the right tracks for having all the essentials?
2. Can someone recommend a good amp to power my speakers and sub please, and does the sub need powering or does it have it's own amp? 
3. Do I need a DAC for TV and connection to laptop? If so can you recommend a good one please? I was thinking of Audioengine D1 Premium 24 bit DAC Interface Connector.
4. Please suggest any alternative products if any of the stuff I mentioned are no good or don't fit together that well.
5. How would I set all of this up? Do I need anything else?
6. Do I need more speakers? I'm worried that the sub may be too much bass and drown out the tower speakers. 

I apologise for my lack of knowledge - I've just signed up here because I read that I could get advice and guidance from enthusiasts and experts. I know that my questions and post may frustrate some of you as I may have made some rookie mistakes, and perhaps this type of post has been done a 100 or so times but wasn't sure how to get answers/help. 

Many kind thanks in advance!

Mo
laher
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
You might be able to use an audio output from the TV. The NFB has one set of RCA analog stereo inputs (IN5). You might have to get a special cable.  It would not be as good as digital input, because you would be using the DAC in the TV, but it would probably work.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 

Essentially, a preamp is used for several things:

- As a way to switch between multiple sound sources (i.e. CD player, tape, etc.)

- Be able to provide a way to adjust volume

- Contains a circuit that has enough current to drive certain amps (sometimes digital sources do not have enough current in the analog output circuits).

You missed one- the line stage is also used to reduce or eliminate the effects of the interconnect cable. This is probably the least understood function of the line stage.
fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
957 posts
 
Ralph, re: your comment about eliminating or minimizing the effect of interconnect, could you please elaborate? I own an ARC Ref6 and ARC Ref150se and I keep getting advice from certain dealers that I should upgrade my IC between the two. I will say this; I have four XLR IC's at my disposal at unless it's in my head, they do sound different! Does this mean my Ref6 is not good at it's job? My question is posed with nothing but earnest sincerity.
laher OP
38 posts
 
@auxinput I have everything up and running now but I’m not entirely convinced of the sounds. Perhaps I have set it all up incorrectly or maybe I need to do something with the settings of the TV or Satellite?

I feel like I need a subwoofer as the bass isn’t enough, and I also feel like there isn’t enough clarity in the highs (possibly the mids). 

Any thoughts/recommendations please? 
mesch
3,481 posts
 
You should be able to run video from satellite box to the TV via HDMI, and audio from the satellite box to the DAC via coax, then DAC to the powered speakers. Is this the way you are set up? 

You have volume control on the DAC and the speakers. Try setting the DAC at fixed output and controlling volume on the speaker. 

Do the powered speakers have tone controls? Might play with these.

Achieve the sonics you desire from the system prior to considering augmenting the bass via use of a subwoofer. 


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