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What next? Part Two

I want to thank everyone who responded to my post "what next?" concerning my need for a new system in the problematic listening room in my new home.  I learned a lot.  One recommendation was to get Jim Smith's book, "Get Better Sound".  I read the book and had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Smith.

I have ordered two Omega Super Alnico monitors from Louis at Omega (concentric drivers, no crossovers).  I think they will work well for near field listening.  Speakers will be about four feet from the front wall, three feet from side walls, 5 or 6 feet apart, 6 or 7 feet from my head, and at ear level.  Now I'm asking for your advice concerning components.

I want to explore a variety of music using Tidal and Roon.  I also want to continue to use my turntable with mm cartridge.  I do have a PS Audio DAC with Cullen modifications, which I will use if I need it and sell if I don't.

I have been trying to get up to speed on amps and pre-amps and integrated amps. A lot has changed since the last time I bought equipment (15 t0 20 years ago).  The room is about 12x15 and the Omegas are very efficient, so I won't need much power.  

I have used tubes in the past and I like the sound, but I'm not committed to using them now.  I have also preferred the sound of class A, but an A/B would probably also be satisfactory and might well be operating in class A most of the time.  

I have also ordered two active subs from Omega and will need to accommodate them in the stereo system.  

I do have a TV in the room, which I don't watch much, but would like to connect by MDMI cable to the new sound system.  I know that the Blusound Node has an HDMI input and many other relevant features and am considering that as a part of the system.

Budget is flexible, but it seems that given the modest power needs of the speakers, there are some relatively inexpensive components that will provide very nice sound. It's really a question of matching everything up.

So - how would you complete this system?  

 

 

 

twilightround
twilightround's avatar
twilightround OP
39 posts
 

Nice - but unless I’m missing something there is no pre-out for the two active woofers.  Also, because I can’t really audition these components, I have to rely on informed opinion and I what little I know, which is that I have liked class A amps. 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,640 posts
 

You could sell the DAC and get a Hifi Rose RS150B. It includes a DAC and an HDMI input.

kota1
2,706 posts
 

@twilightround 

For the features you want (including 2 sub outs) would you consider an A/V receiver? 

Otherwise you can get the Cocktail Audio X-35 and a DSPeaker 8033 sub equalizer:

https://www.dspeaker.com/anti-mode-8033

kota1
2,706 posts
 

This marantz receiver has the streaming, the phono, the hdmi, 2 sub outs AND audyssey room eq. You can obviously spend more $ but this does have the features you want. I don't know of 2 channel preamps with 2 sub outs, usually just one:

 

twilightround's avatar
twilightround OP
39 posts
 

The thing is, I can’t audition any of this stuff at a store near me.  And I have been out of the market for good sound for so long that I don’t know first hand what any of them sound like.  Which makes me lean toward separates so that I can replace them if necessary with one at a time.   One combination would be Blusound node, Schiit pre-amp, Schiit amp.  They are so inexpensive new that I would probably get them that way.  And I already have a pretty good DAC.  But if there is a better combination, new or used, within the above price range, I would be interested in learning about it. And, since the speakers won’t be ready for about two months, I’ve got some time to learn.  

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