First 2-channel setup

[205boi]

Here is my first 2-channel setup. Looking for some advice on a hifi streaming device and I will be upgrading the subwoofer at some point. Currently considering the Blue node 2i. Also looking for something to clean the power up a bit. The Belkin belongs in the basement surround setup.

Emotiva PT-100 Preamp
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen3
Klipsch R12sw.....I think?
Mirage OMD-15 Towers

[garbulky]

Mar 30, 2019 9:51:45 GMT -5 205boi said:

Here is my first 2-channel setup. Looking for some advice on a hifi streaming device and I will be upgrading the subwoofer at some point. Currently considering the Blue node 2i. Also looking for something to clean the power up a bit. The Belkin belongs in the basement surround setup.

Emotiva PT-100 Preamp
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen3
Klipsch R12sw.....I think?
Mirage OMD-15 Towers

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View Attachment

Congrats!! Don’t worry about the power.

[klinemj]

Mar 30, 2019 9:51:45 GMT -5 205boi said:

Here is my first 2-channel setup. Looking for some advice on a hifi streaming device and I will be upgrading the subwoofer at some point. Currently considering the Blue node 2i. Also looking for something to clean the power up a bit. The Belkin belongs in the basement surround setup.

Emotiva PT-100 Preamp
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen3
Klipsch R12sw.....I think?
Mirage OMD-15 Towers

View Attachment
View Attachment

I would strongly consider a Sonore product, such as the microRendu or ultraRendu for streaming.

Mark

[novisnick]

I see you’ve spent a few $$$$ there my friend! There are so many options at this point. Mark makes a good point about the Sonore product line where as I’m more of a fan of the SOTM sms-200 Or Ultra or Neo.

Another well respected manufacturer Mytek, just released their Brooklyn Bridge streamer that is a pretty comprehensive piece of kit.
What we really need to know is what your budget is, so what is your budget?

I sure would have looked hard and long at the Brooklyn Bridge if it had been offered at the time. Good luck as you seem to have a great start at a wonderful system!

[205boi]

Mar 30, 2019 13:33:15 GMT -5 novisnick said:

I see you’ve spent a few $$$$ there my friend! There are so many options at this point. Mark makes a good point about the Sonore product line where as I’m more of a fan of the SOTM sms-200 Or Ultra or Neo.

Another well respected manufacturer Mytek, just released their Brooklyn Bridge streamer that is a pretty comprehensive piece of kit.
What we really need to know is what your budget is, so what is your budget?

I sure would have looked hard and long at the Brooklyn Bridge if it had been offered at the time. Good luck as you seem to have a great start at a wonderful system!

I've had the preamp for a while and was using a UPA-200 for power. I eventually want to upgrade to the XSP-1.

I've never even heard of these products but I'll sure be looking. As far as budget I was hoping to stay around $300 or less. I'm open to used products also.

[novisnick]

Mar 30, 2019 13:50:56 GMT -5 205boi said:

Mar 30, 2019 13:33:15 GMT -5 novisnick said:

I see you’ve spent a few $$$$ there my friend! There are so many options at this point. Mark makes a good point about the Sonore product line where as I’m more of a fan of the SOTM sms-200 Or Ultra or Neo.

Another well respected manufacturer Mytek, just released their Brooklyn Bridge streamer that is a pretty comprehensive piece of kit.
What we really need to know is what your budget is, so what is your budget?

I sure would have looked hard and long at the Brooklyn Bridge if it had been offered at the time. Good luck as you seem to have a great start at a wonderful system!

I've had the preamp for a while and was using a UPA-200 for power. I eventually want to upgrade to the XSP-1.

I've never even heard of these products but I'll sure be looking. As far as budget I was hoping to stay around $300 or less. I'm open to used products also.

Sorry for bringing up end of search gear, It does get rather pricey sometimes. Other times you can find some really good deals on wonderfully sounding gear.

 SP-1 is a very good preamp, I’ve owned both models. The Brooklyn DAC original that I own is also a preampmand DAC and are great sounding, for a price. Some gear can multitask and save you money if they are up to your requirements and ears, other folks love the one trick pony , as in a single box for a single function. Nothing wrong with either method IMHO, just depends on what floats your boat.

Good luck as we are all here for you! 👍🎶🎶🎶

[localnet]

I will throw something out here for you to chew on... Ever hear of Schiit Audio? I own a bit of their gear and for the money, it is very hard to beat...

The DAC, I would look at their Modi $99 www.schiit.com/products/modi-1

I would add the Schiit Loki into the mix, their four band tone control equalizer, best money I have spent to date. $149 www.schiit.com/products/loki

Also, some Schiit PYST cables if you go with the Loki to connect. $20 www.schiit.com/products/pyst-cables

If you need boost/Gain/Volume controls for the DAC, the Schiit SYS will fit that bill at $49, just add another set of PYST cables. www.schiit.com/products/sys

Now, how to stream? I would find a BT receiver and plug it in with an optical cable to the Modi. Amazon has a ton of them. I use a $20 one in my garage, no issues with sound, BT is BT, and you are on a budget.

That Brooklyn Bridge unit others mentioned is a fantastic unit, but at $2500 it is a bit of a budget breaker.

Take a look at the Schiit I posted above, and they have much more, and the sound out of their stuff is incredible. Take a look at their tube gear too... Love my Freya.

Hope this helps.



Subs for music, seriously consider a sealed sub over ported... And I would purchase a pair, set them outboard your speakers and dial them in... If you get a quality sub, tune it properly, you will be blown away. Just my .02

[novisnick]

Mar 30, 2019 15:38:39 GMT -5 localnet said:

I will throw something out here for you to chew on... Ever hear of Schiit Audio? I own a bit of their gear and for the money, it is very hard to beat...

The DAC, I would look at their Modi $99 www.schiit.com/products/modi-1

I would add the Schiit Loki into the mix, their four band tone control equalizer, best money I have spent to date. $149 www.schiit.com/products/loki

Also, some Schiit PYST cables if you go with the Loki to connect. $20 www.schiit.com/products/pyst-cables

If you need boost/Gain/Volume controls for the DAC, the Schiit SYS will fit that bill at $49, just add another set of PYST cables. www.schiit.com/products/sys

Now, how to stream? I would find a BT receiver and plug it in with an optical cable to the Modi. Amazon has a ton of them. I use a $20 one in my garage, no issues with sound, BT is BT, and you are on a budget.

That Brooklyn Bridge unit others mentioned is a fantastic unit, but at $2500 it is a bit of a budget breaker.

Take a look at the Schiit I posted above, and they have much more, and the sound out of their stuff is incredible. Take a look at their tube gear too... Love my Freya.

Hope this helps.

localnet makes some very good points here.

In my previous reply to this thread, Schiit Audio did come to mind but I have no experience with they’re products but one, the Eitre. I understand they are of consistent manufacturing quality. 
Do  look at Schiit, May be just what your looking for.

[localnet]

I am totally blown away with the Schiit Audio quality, especially the Loki... That was the best $149 I have ever spent in regards to audio gear. And then the Mani phono preamp, my God that just breaths life into my vinyl... And then the icing on the cake, the Schiit Freya 2 tube preamp... Everything that goes through that baby is pure nirvana, no lie. For the money, Schiit Audio is one incredible outfit, especially for the money. Plenty of YouTube reviews out there, and they are all stellar.

[205boi]

Mar 30, 2019 15:38:39 GMT -5 localnet said:

I will throw something out here for you to chew on... Ever hear of Schiit Audio? I own a bit of their gear and for the money, it is very hard to beat...

The DAC, I would look at their Modi $99 www.schiit.com/products/modi-1

I would add the Schiit Loki into the mix, their four band tone control equalizer, best money I have spent to date. $149 www.schiit.com/products/loki

Also, some Schiit PYST cables if you go with the Loki to connect. $20 www.schiit.com/products/pyst-cables

If you need boost/Gain/Volume controls for the DAC, the Schiit SYS will fit that bill at $49, just add another set of PYST cables. www.schiit.com/products/sys

Now, how to stream? I would find a BT receiver and plug it in with an optical cable to the Modi. Amazon has a ton of them. I use a $20 one in my garage, no issues with sound, BT is BT, and you are on a budget.

That Brooklyn Bridge unit others mentioned is a fantastic unit, but at $2500 it is a bit of a budget breaker.

Take a look at the Schiit I posted above, and they have much more, and the sound out of their stuff is incredible. Take a look at their tube gear too... Love my Freya.

Hope this helps.



Subs for music, seriously consider a sealed sub over ported... And I would purchase a pair, set them outboard your speakers and dial them in... If you get a quality sub, tune it properly, you will be blown away. Just my .02

[205boi]

Thanks for the advice. I'm taking a look at the devices you mentioned and they all look great and fit my current budget.

I do have the Emotiva USB BT dongle thing connected but I just know it can sound better. Maybe I should look into their new BT that has digital outputs.

I'm thinking about going diy with the subs and sealed based on what I've been reading since it's music only.

[localnet]

Mar 30, 2019 23:09:48 GMT -5 205boi said:

Thanks for the advice. I'm taking a look at the devices you mentioned and they all look great and fit my current budget.

I do have the Emotiva USB BT dongle thing connected but I just know it can sound better. Maybe I should look into their new BT that has digital outputs.

I'm thinking about going diy with the subs and sealed based on what I've been reading since it's music only.

If you already have the BT dongle, I think I may know what is going on. You may be getting interference through the USB. I would upgrade the dongle to the Emo BTR-1 and eliminate the USB bus out of the system and go optical.

But, if you need to use USB, Schitt Audio has a USB Decrapifier, the Wyrd, for $99 www.schiit.com/products/wyrd

As far as a sub, I would look over at SVS in their outlet store. There is a SB-1000 sub there for $475, or $22 a month or a pair for $50. You have a year to use the sub(s) and then you can send it back for a near full refund to upgrade to a larger sub or get a pair. I just did exactly that to upgrade to a pair of SB-3000 subs. I know some guys will poo poo the payment scheme, but I use it all of the time and pay it off in a couple of months or a few weeks. Easier to use their money and the interest is not much if you pay off quickly. But I can do that, not everyone can and the few dollars I pay in interest is not that big of a deal to me, it is still cheaper than my CC. Just thought I would throw that out there.

[jackfish]

Sub for music? Rythmik L12

www.rythmikaudio.com/L12.html

[garbulky]

I've never benefitted from an improved digital transport, though there's some who've tried these products and say they did experience an improvement. I'm skeptical, but then again, I haven't heard it. I think in your current sitaution - careful speaker positioning and toe in, dual subs, and room treatment will make the biggest difference.

[dsonyay]

We have same exact preamp and amp.

I also have the Emo CD-100, Rega P2 TT, Technics SL-23 TT (gonna get a mono cartridge and use it for mono records).. all of this feeds Klipsch RF-62ii tower speakers.

Most all of the pieces I bought used for very good prices except for CD player (purchased new) and Preamp (Emotive Scratch and Dent Sale).

I stream Tidal through USB from my laptop as well.


Speakers.. check out the Klipsch RP-600 bookshelves.. they get rave rave rave reviews.