2. amps-preamps
  3. 165540-159832

Dream Speakers = landed. Now I need to feed them!

So I scored a pair of Belle Klipsch (1987 models, AB crossover).  I would have gone for Khorns, but the room they were going in just wasn't going to work.  RIght now, I'm running a cheap little Sony (STR-DH190) stereo receiver on them, and even that sounds amazing, but I know I've barely scratched the surface of what they're capable of.  The dream is a pair of SET monoblocks (probably 300B type), though I'm worried about not being able to drive the bottom enough.  I listen to a wide array of music from classical and opera to extreme metal, though my wife is decidedly more of a rock person, so I definitely need something that will push those woofers proper. 

Due to lifestyle and logistics, a big piece of my source audio is going to be HQ feeds from my laptop via Bluetooth.  I know, not an ideal source, but until I build my HTPC, it's just going to have to work.  I also need to run optical out from my Sony Bravia (which I can't do right now because the receiver doesn't have optical in and the TV doesn't have analog out).  

Here's the hard part: Right now, I can't really spend more than $1k for the whole shebang.  So I started hunting.

At first I was sniffing around looking for a tube preamp that can handle both Bluetooth and Toslink, but all that seems to be out there are suspiciously cheap Chinese integrated amps that have no pre out for later use.  I also looked at some dedicated DAC's such as the Cambridge Audio DACMagic, that I knew I could pair with a BT-capable tube pre.  But I'm still sketchy about the cheap Chinese kit.  I've heard positive things about Dared, though, and I was thinking their 5BT would be a good foundation alongside the aforementioned DAC, because I could use its power stage for right now, and if I can't stay in the right now budget to get a good pair of monoblocks, then I could wait for a while and buy the right ones later. 

Thoughts? Opinions?  Alternative ideas?  


jerkface
Post removed 
subterranean6's avatar
subterranean6
37 posts
 
Schiit is your friend.  If I had Klipsch speakers I’d start with an Aegir, Sys, and their cheapest DAC and go from there. 
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,430 posts
 
Hi Jerkface! If you are going to hold off on a move until you can do tubes, the advice above about pairing a Carver 275 with Klipsch is good--in my experience. The Crimson 275 sings with Klipsch heritage/vintage stuff. But that would still require a preamp or a DAC with a volume control.

The poster above who warned about your Klipsch being sensitive to sources and amps is correct. Whatever you do, you’ll want to be careful and test stuff out, knowing you might need to be patient and save.

You could also look at used Rogue, Quicksilver, Primaluna, Willsenton R8, or Doge.   Each brand has a tube integrated that would likely work well with those speakers.  If you watch used listings and could add $300-$500 to your budget you'd score one.  I don't think you're getting an integrated DAC at that point, and you might be better off trying a budget DAC solution. 

Best of luck!
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,430 posts
 
Take a look at this:  https://doge.audio/product/doge-5-padc/   This one is around $1k.

And, unless someone can tell you (a) they have looked inside a Doge; (b) they've heard one; and (c) they have dealt with the company--don't listen to statements about made in China.  The chief engineer of Doge knows what he's doing. Quality of build and parts components are higher than many well selling other brands.  
subterranean6's avatar
subterranean6
37 posts
 
I should mention too that I’ve got Dayens amps and love them. The Dayens Ampino sounds amazing and Verty Audio on Long Island have been great to work with. 
More to discover