Aj72 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Looking at streaming spotify through my home stereo as I want to get better sound than what the Bose Docking station is giving me. I have speakers but nothing else at this stage. Need a unit that is able to support a sub or two what is the best way to go for under $1000? I have been looking at various Marantz models, Sony and Harman Kardon which all have spotify connect is this the best option? Sound quality is important but so is simplicity and ease of function. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungbean66 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 I would look at something by NAD as they have the bluesound ecosystem which would be perfect for youSent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhakPak Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 I use PS4 to stream Spotify to my DAC, sounds great. Dunno about the $1000 budget though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okitoki Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 if you want an all in one system, most of the new AVR has spotify already... my friend's Yamaha RX-A2060 does a decent job on his B&W 683 (even though it is bright to my ears); further improved when he added a NAD amp for the 683 (Still kind of bright for me) Digital music running at 2.1 or 2.0 on his system sounds pretty good... however, running his turntable on it just doesnt sound good at all... I separate my HT and Stereo music, and run my spotify using a chromecast audio to my stereo receiver... sounds much better than my Pioneer AVR streaming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 buy the amp you like, don't worry about on board streaming, think of it as a bonus if included. A (2nd hand???) dac and a cromecast audio streamer need not cost you much and then all 3 could be upgraded when funds permit. Are we talking a 2 ch amp or a AVR? Modern AVR's should all be able to do spotify connect these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChupaChups Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 21 hours ago, Mungbean66 said: I would look at something by NAD as they have the bluesound ecosystem which would be perfect for you Sent from my HTC 2PS6200 using Tapatalk How about this? - http://www.stereo.net.au/news/nad-covers-all-bases-with-chromecast-enabled-c338 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj72 Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks for the replies here plenty to think about. Blybo what would you suggest for an amp, dac and chromecast audio streamer? Would more than likely all be second hand to get better value for money. I had a separates setup in the past with elektra and cary components (multichannel). I understand that my budget wont get me that now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Fi Whipped Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 What speakers do you have, pretty important for working out which amp might suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj72 Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 Klipsch KG 4.2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj72 Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 I'm thinking dedicated two channel.Yes like NAD products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicester Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 (edited) 95db/spl - get a nice tube amp. Maybe even a Peachtree integrated with built in dac could suit your needs (just add on the chromecast). Something like this - shame it sold Edited March 28, 2017 by Juicester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 10 hours ago, Aj72 said: Thanks for the replies here plenty to think about. Blybo what would you suggest for an amp, dac and chromecast audio streamer? Would more than likely all be second hand to get better value for money. I had a separates setup in the past with elektra and cary components (multichannel). I understand that my budget wont get me that now. There's some nice stuff in the classifieds as per usual. If it were my money I'd be chasing these... slightly over budget The Cromecast Audio is only $59 at JB https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/accessories/google/google-chromecast-audio/937282/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Another good buy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj72 Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 (edited) Okay great. I will keep my eye out. I have already got a Bryston 2B LP amplifier but no sub option and not sure if it could work in my system anyway (unless I go a passive sub which means I would need a preamp). Will be putting this up for sale I think and put proceeds of sale towards next purchase. Lovely amp though.... Edited March 29, 2017 by Aj72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Aj72 said: Okay great. I will keep my eye out. I have already got a Bryston 2B LP amplifier but no sub option and not sure if it could work in my system anyway (unless I go a passive sub which means I would need a preamp). Will be putting this up for sale I think and put proceeds of sale towards next purchase. Lovely amp though.... You could keep it and get a pre-amp with multiple pre-outs, 1 pair to the Bryston and 1 to the sub. Do you already have a sub? Some can connect via hi level speaker connections. Edited March 29, 2017 by blybo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 10 minutes ago, Aj72 said: Okay great. I will keep my eye out. I have already got a Bryston 2B LP amplifier but no sub option and not sure if it could work in my system anyway (unless I go a passive sub which means I would need a preamp). Will be putting this up for sale I think and put proceeds of sale towards next purchase. Lovely amp though.... I think one of the things with the options looking for, is I dont know of anything apart from some AVR options eg the marantz slim line avr or the denon heos AVR that come with anything akin to sub management in this sort of budget i.e. under $1k. the little 2ch nad does ... dont know how sophisticated but atleast careers for. another to consider is the little elac 2ch integrated though again too expensive brand new (out of budget) and will need a streamer to feed. if happy wiht just pre outs from a 2ch device will open up some more options, but again I suspect will come down to what comes up second hand. the other option as has been suggested is any 2ch integrated wiht pre outs and add dac streamer that can fit in budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj72 Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 Reckon I'm leaning toward the integrated and DAC. The Cambridge looks pretty good and a DAC streamer, maybe the Audiolab? Thanks for the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 28 minutes ago, Aj72 said: Reckon I'm leaning toward the integrated and DAC. The Cambridge looks pretty good and a DAC streamer, maybe the Audiolab? Thanks for the suggestions. The Cambridge in particular is a bargain. I have the Audiolab DAC built into my CD player and it sounds pretty good to me, but the MDAC is not a streamer, you will still need something like a Cromecast/Bluenode/Sonos or a laptop to get Spotify to the dac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 I know its tempting to have all in one units, but particularly with streamers and possibly with dacs as well, I do think worth keeping separate from the amp side. its mainly because streaming forms/tech capabilities seems to constantly changing. evolving. seem to be new features types of support required etc. I can quite easily see buying an amp now with everything built in and only few years down track no one wanting it because it doesnt have all the "latest" a bit like av gear where the processing side just keeps marching on in an annual churn ti might cost a tad more but I think buy a cheap streamer that does basically what want, a separate little dac and an integrated (with pre outs to cover with the subs if thats all need) all this can individually turn over upgrade on as time goes on too if find something else more suitable or to suit future needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aj72 Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 (edited) So have I got this right? Cheap Streamer (Chromecast) DAC (Audiolab,Cambridge DAC Magic any others? NAD?). I would even get a very cheap DAC and a more expensive one just to see the difference. What's a good really cheap DAC? Integrated (looking at Cambridge but would consider others looking at around 100 Watts per channel minimum into 8ohms. I love the Bryston but it's 50W limit isn't enough for me even with my efficient Klipsch speakers). That's all I will need. Edited March 29, 2017 by Aj72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rogerthat Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 3 hours ago, Aj72 said: Okay great. I will keep my eye out. I have already got a Bryston 2B LP amplifier but no sub option and not sure if it could work in my system anyway (unless I go a passive sub which means I would need a preamp). Will be putting this up for sale I think and put proceeds of sale towards next purchase. Lovely amp though.... Not sure why you want to get rid of the Bryston. It can definitely power your speakers much better than the amps you are thinking about. All you need is the chromecast and the Audiolab MDAC and the Bryston. The MDAC is a preamp as well so can control the volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 (edited) 20 minutes ago, rogerthat said: Not sure why you want to get rid of the Bryston. It can definitely power your speakers much better than the amps you are thinking about. All you need is the chromecast and the Audiolab MDAC and the Bryston. The MDAC is a preamp as well so can control the volume. That's fine if only wanting to use digital source. That Cambridge was their top of the line back in the day. 1 hour ago, Aj72 said: So have I got this right? Cheap Streamer (Chromecast) DAC (Audiolab,Cambridge DAC Magic any others? NAD?). I would even get a very cheap DAC and a more expensive one just to see the difference. What's a good really cheap DAC? Integrated (looking at Cambridge but would consider others looking at around 100 Watts per channel minimum into 8ohms. I love the Bryston but it's 50W limit isn't enough for me even with my efficient Klipsch speakers). That's all I will need. There is also a cheap Arcam rBlink DAC in the classifies somewhere @ a very cheap price. It would get you started and may well be all you need. I tend to find most good DACs have different sound signatures rather than being obviously better or worse than each other. The Audiolab DAC does have 7 filters which subtly change the sound, so you can flavour to taste if you want. Found it Edited March 29, 2017 by blybo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerav Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Not sure why others are not warning about the chromecast audio, unfortunately they just don't cut it with digital out. I have 3 of them and use for streaming music around the house and patio areas but not in main system. Even John Darko was hopeful that with using a chromecast audio with digital out into a decent dac would be a real game changer but unfortunately it's not. http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/07/not-as-the-artist-intended-google-chromecast-audio-w-tidal/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satanica Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 11 minutes ago, powerav said: Not sure why others are not warning about the chromecast audio... Perhaps because your opinion is not universal, just saying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 16 minutes ago, powerav said: Not sure why others are not warning about the chromecast audio, unfortunately they just don't cut it with digital out. I have 3 of them and use for streaming music around the house and patio areas but not in main system. Even John Darko was hopeful that with using a chromecast audio with digital out into a decent dac would be a real game changer but unfortunately it's not. http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/07/not-as-the-artist-intended-google-chromecast-audio-w-tidal/ Perhaps because it's hard to get an Integrated, Dac and streamer for under $1K 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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