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Recommendations Amp, DAC for Kef R900

Looking for advice on Amp’s and DAC’s for my new Kef R900 speakers.  Currently running them with only a Yamaha A-S801 amp, and I’m afraid I may be under powering the speakers, and may damage them (although I have not heard any clipping yet).

I am using a Sonos Connect - listen to mostly Tidal and Spotify, both through my iPhone, and the USB port on amp.  Listen to large variety of music, but mostly to Alternative, Classic Rock, and Reggae.  I will also be attaching TV to system soon, but will use the system 99% of the time for just music. Unless I start watching a lot of movies, I don’t plan on adding a sub. Have the system setup in my fairly large, basement. 

I want to purchase a very nice system, but only want to purchase in steps.  When finished I would like a good 2ch integrated Amp, and DAC system, but am wondering if I should get separate Amp/Pe-Amp.  Would I notice a big difference listening to streaming?  I was hoping to use the Yamaha as the Pre-Amp, and buy a nice Amp next, but I believe that this is not an option.  I want to buy used, budget of $2k for Amp, $1.5k for DAC, but I am flexible.


vaporcloud
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
@Uncola, if my theory is correct and the problem occurs in groups of 16 settings at various higher settings of the volume control, it would occur to a less severe degree at higher volume settings.

More importantly, though, if my theory is correct I would NOT expect the defect to cause any adverse sonic effects at volume settings for which the reduction in right channel volume doesn’t occur.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
@uncola Talk to this guy, https://www.mikepowellaudio.com/ he's the Kinki rep. in the U.S.
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maritime51
1,288 posts
 
Have fun: put in a dime and you get back a dollar’s worth of palaver. 
uncola
58 posts
 
thanks I did ask mike powell for advice on any other steps I should try to test or isolate the issue.  once I have a day off from work I'll try changing dac output to variable and set it to like 10% so I can test the kinki at levels above 40 without my neighbors calling cops.  I'm still totally able to use the amp if I just avoid 16-32 which isn't too hard to do.  loving the sound
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maritime51
1,288 posts
 
Get a replacement!
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