Undiscovered paypal balance leads to the undiscovered country...
....either in the philosophical sense if I get rumbled or in terms of new kit if I don't.
Employing the universal constant of man-maths, I have decided to rebuild my office system for several important reasons. Using a hitherto forgotten paypal balance I can do this largely for 'free', therefore my hobby is costing me 'nothing'. Geddit? Good....I am glad we understand each other.
Reasons for upgrading:
Now for an amp. It needed to be low maintainance, run cool, be forgettable once it's switched on...sounds like a T-amp then, and I've had a couple now. I quite like them, but not outstandingly so, but then @Breitling advertised a little NVA AP20 for a song (or at least, he accepted a cheeky song) so bang went my plan to try something new! I am still pleased though - whatever differences there may be between Mr NVA and me, he does make peerless amplifiers imo. I should get it next week.
My laptop will be the source - usually with spotify, or sometimes I play my main music library on my back-up hard-disc through foobar. This means I'd ideally like to handle higher sample rates - but that wouldn't need to be a deal breaker - though I do want a USB input. I've used several 'budget' DACs recently that are very good, but don't really excel through USB, so I started googling.
Amongst others I came up with a second hand HRT Music Steamer II, which has received rave reviews so it should be reasonable at least. I saw Alan Sircom reviewed & liked it, and when he was posting on HiFi forums he seemed pretty straight and honest. He loved Royd speakers too, so he has style.... Anyway, if I don't like it I can move it on, as it is second hand from state side for about £80.
It also is Asynchronous USB as well - not bad for £140 new!
So my only real connundrum left is speaker cable - I'll need 1m on one side & 2m on t'other minimum. Obviously NVA LS1 would be ideal, but I don't want to upset anyone at NVA anymore than they already are by getting in touch again, so I'm open to alternative suggestions. It has to be low capacitance - NAC A5 will be fine, I was also toying with the idea of 'tellurium q blue', but that's not so cheap for a 2m set (about £80). What do you reckon chaps?
Employing the universal constant of man-maths, I have decided to rebuild my office system for several important reasons. Using a hitherto forgotten paypal balance I can do this largely for 'free', therefore my hobby is costing me 'nothing'. Geddit? Good....I am glad we understand each other.
Reasons for upgrading:
- My current combined DAC/Amp is excellent in terms of convenience & vfm, but I'd like a little improvement if it is in reach.
- My main system is so well sorted at the moment I don't want to touch anything else on it.
- Because it'd be silly not to. And I am slightly bored at being so content and want to play at HiFi again!
Now for an amp. It needed to be low maintainance, run cool, be forgettable once it's switched on...sounds like a T-amp then, and I've had a couple now. I quite like them, but not outstandingly so, but then @Breitling advertised a little NVA AP20 for a song (or at least, he accepted a cheeky song) so bang went my plan to try something new! I am still pleased though - whatever differences there may be between Mr NVA and me, he does make peerless amplifiers imo. I should get it next week.
My laptop will be the source - usually with spotify, or sometimes I play my main music library on my back-up hard-disc through foobar. This means I'd ideally like to handle higher sample rates - but that wouldn't need to be a deal breaker - though I do want a USB input. I've used several 'budget' DACs recently that are very good, but don't really excel through USB, so I started googling.
Amongst others I came up with a second hand HRT Music Steamer II, which has received rave reviews so it should be reasonable at least. I saw Alan Sircom reviewed & liked it, and when he was posting on HiFi forums he seemed pretty straight and honest. He loved Royd speakers too, so he has style.... Anyway, if I don't like it I can move it on, as it is second hand from state side for about £80.
It also is Asynchronous USB as well - not bad for £140 new!So my only real connundrum left is speaker cable - I'll need 1m on one side & 2m on t'other minimum. Obviously NVA LS1 would be ideal, but I don't want to upset anyone at NVA anymore than they already are by getting in touch again, so I'm open to alternative suggestions. It has to be low capacitance - NAC A5 will be fine, I was also toying with the idea of 'tellurium q blue', but that's not so cheap for a 2m set (about £80). What do you reckon chaps?
Comments
To reassure you, I've worked through a few equations on the old chalk board, and your man-maths stands up pretty well. Good work.
I thank you, my esteemed colleague.
:-?