I believe at your price point, unless you require separates for system arrangement, you should consider an integrated amplifier. Many have onboard DACs. I would be more inclined to purchase a separate DAC. What sources do you input to your DAC?
Graduating to separates need help
Graduating to separates need help
I currently have a Marantz SR 18 receiver that was feeding and Adcom GFA 555 that has been modified. my SR 18 had a memory issue and the local shop messed up the micro processor and I can’t set my speakers to large now in the menu
I also have a Denon AVR 5600 receiver which I’m using now and there is no comparison in the sound the Marantz destroys the Denon
I don’t know enough about preamplifiers to buy a good used one I need something with good DAC
the DAC chips in the Marantz sounded phenomenal. should I just buy another SR 18 and feed it to a better amplifier or should I jump to a parasound preamp P6 and buy a better amplifier I was looking at some Bryston amplifiers which I really like but my budget is not big I want to keep my budget around 2000. I don’t mind used. I just want better sound than the sr18 adcom setup. Any suggestions
I currently have a Marantz SR 18 receiver that was feeding and Adcom GFA 555 that has been modified. my SR 18 had a memory issue and the local shop messed up the micro processor and I can’t set my speakers to large now in the menu
I also have a Denon AVR 5600 receiver which I’m using now and there is no comparison in the sound the Marantz destroys the Denon
I don’t know enough about preamplifiers to buy a good used one I need something with good DAC
the DAC chips in the Marantz sounded phenomenal. should I just buy another SR 18 and feed it to a better amplifier or should I jump to a parasound preamp P6 and buy a better amplifier I was looking at some Bryston amplifiers which I really like but my budget is not big I want to keep my budget around 2000. I don’t mind used. I just want better sound than the sr18 adcom setup. Any suggestions
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- 29 posts total
The modded Adcom might still be useful for the time being. I’d focus on the preamp, as a good stereo pre will provide a big performance boost over the preamp section of an AVR. As others have mentioned, a separate DAC is a better idea than an onboard DAC in a preamp or integrated. It will likely sound better, and requiring an onboard DAC will significantly limit your choices in preamps. With that in mind, here are some very good preamps currently available that will wipe the floor over the pre section of your AVR, and I believe both have HT bypass, which is nice... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9d86i-ayre-acoustics-k-5xe-solid-state https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9d7j1-belles-28a-solid-state And here’s a good DAC... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9da98-schiit-bifrost-gen-2-with-usb-2-and-uber-analog-upgrades-... Oh, and if you go the separate DAC route you’ll need a digital cable. This one is very good and only 40 bucks. No need to spend more at least for now. Make sure you heed the direction arrows -- I installed mine backwards once and sounded like total crap. https://www.amazon.com/Geistnotes-Apogee-Wyde-Cable-WE-RR/dp/B01N29180M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ODRJOPRA5TT... And yes, if you spend $1000 on a DAC you will certainly get better performance over the DAC in the Marantz. If you can spend that much, here’s another good option, but even the Schiit Bifrost I listed above will be an improvement over the Marantz. https://www.ebay.com/itm/123416278237?ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F7... One of the benefits of stepping up to this level, if you buy one of the preamps I listed above you can run the DAC balanced into the preamp. Then you’ll want this digital cable... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6XL1XW/ref=twister_B01MUH69P1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 In theory, digital cables are better when terminated with balanced connectors. Hope this helps, and best of luck! |
- 29 posts total