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Audiophile newbie

I'm a mid-twenties yuppie. I love good sound, but I'm also not reckless with money. What are some basics I should know about when in comes to audio set-up (pre-amps, amps, speakers). I actually don't understand what purpose a pre-amp serves.

Here are a couple straight-up questions:
What does a pre-amp do?
What are the concerns to consider when choosing cables?
What are the best "bang-for-your-buck" brands? (ifi, Arcam, Vanatoo?)
128x128jwilsco
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,316 posts
 
Yuppies are so 80's/Reagan era.

What is the modern equivalent of a yuppie then?

Do all smart phone owners qualify?
xti16
1,525 posts
 
Something a little different to consider. Dynaudio Xeo wireless/amplified speakers. All you need is a source which connects to the transmitter and power near where the speakers will be located (since they have built in amps).
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,316 posts
 
Have not heard Xeo but have never heard bad sounding Dynaudio and the Xeo design makes things very easy it would seem. Nice product!
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
Yuppies are so 80's/Reagan era.

What is the modern equivalent of a yuppie then?

Do all smart phone owners qualify?
The key word for yuppie is young, so "old farts" with a smartphone do not qualify. :-)
jwilsco's avatar
jwilsco OP
30 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses everybody! Looks like NAD is a front-runner.

I'm a yuppie and I'm sticking to it. :)
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