2. home-theater
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Need advice on media player and or dacs

Im new to this so be gentle please. 

 Im building a home theater system and value music quality as much or more than theater quality. I currently have a marantz cinema 60, anthem mca325 gen2 amp, paradigm founder 120f r&l, rel ht1205 mkii, and b&w center and surrounds. Will be getting a founder 90c in near future to replce my b&w center. Im looking into dacs and media players as i would like to compile a library of quality music. Not sure if i need a dac as the marantz allegedly has a good one built in. As far as media players, can they really improve quality?  Wheres a good place to start?  Info out there is a bit confusing 

sandrodg73
sandrodg73 OP
124 posts
 

Thanks for your feedback 

bgross's avatar
bgross
396 posts
 

Get yourself an Audible Illusions, Modulus 3a. There's a couple for sale on US_M. Tuber too that will take the edge off the B&Ws for sure. Wonderful preamp well within your budget. 

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

Least people forget, a streamer is a PC you have less configuration control over. 

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cleeds
5,957 posts
 
tvrgeek

... a streamer is a PC you have less configuration control over ...

Most streamers aren't personal computers at all. Most that I've used run on Linux, where you have pretty much total control because it's open source.

sandrodg73 OP
124 posts
 

Does the modulus haveva ht bypass?  I dont have the room or $$to do a separate 2 ch set up. My L&R are paradigm 100fs. Which are pretty neutral to me. My B&Ws were too bright for music. Thats why i went away from them. I will be upgrading my center to paradigm also. Ultimately the only B&W speakers left will be my ceiling rear surrounds.  I really like them. So i guess my preamp needs to pair well with paradigm. Maybe anthem is the way to go but pretty pricey from what ive seen. 

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