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Post by garbulky on Sept 26, 2020 20:54:07 GMT -5
**Update** I need to do this on the cheap. REALLY tired of the TV sound, so I'm going to acquire a few components and get it going even if it's not how I want it done. Then I can satisfy some upgraditis as we go along! I am in the process of getting a used A-100 amp. I think I'm going to get a Schiit Modius DAC. These 2 components will be the backbone; yes, I know there isn't a tube pre-amp in the mix... that'll have to be part of the upgrade. I'm using the digital out from the TV using it as the switching source. I'm getting the plate amp of an old Mordaunt Short subwoofer fixed and will need a good pair of bookshelf speakers. That will at least get me into some decent sound! You want to go cheap? Get you a pair of used airmotiv speakers. I think the 5 and 6 are really good and have surprisingly nice bass and power. Then you can skip the amp. For the optical digital out, I also want to give you another option - which depending on what you are looking for may or may not work. www.amazon.com/HDMI2-0b-Extractor-avedio-links-Switcher/dp/B088NK9PY4/Basically it's an HDMI 2.0b switch which can take a few HDMI inputs and extract the audio output in to an optical output. Also has a remote that switches between inputs if you need that sort of thing. I have the version that does all this but also gives you a simultaenous optical and coax spdif output, but it's no longer sold. It works well with no lag. But every once in a while, it will lose a lock and require me to turn it off and on, maybe once every two months. I use this device because I don't want the sound to come out of the tv's optical port. Therefore I use it to give any HDMI only device an optical port. |
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Post by jdubs on Jan 4, 2021 13:28:17 GMT -5
This has been a slow process... the new year is going to bring this to fruition however.
TV is now on the mantle, so my choices here get limited fast. I did acquire and A100 and decided on optical out from my TV. I could be convinced to go with powered speakers and use the A100 elsewhere.
Now I need DAC and speakers. Thinking Schiit or Topping DAC. Speakers are still up in the air. I need something that isn’t ported out the back, have a 6.5” (or dual 5.25) driver, and sound good in this application.
The search continues...
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Post by jdubs on Jan 19, 2021 16:25:19 GMT -5
Oversight on my part: the A-100 doesn’t have a remote, and therefore no way to control the volume via the harmony remote. No bueno for a TV system. I ripped my old Fusion Flex amp out of the garage and stuck it in the system and boom, I’m up and running. A couple more tweaks and I’ll post the whole system layout soon!
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Post by garbulky on Jan 19, 2021 17:39:18 GMT -5
Oversight on my part: the A-100 doesn’t have a remote, and therefore no way to control the volume via the harmony remote. No bueno for a TV system. I ripped my old Fusion Flex amp out of the garage and stuck it in the system and boom, I’m up and running. A couple more tweaks and I’ll post the whole system layout soon! You need a DAC with a remote control. Just make sure logitech harmony is compatible with it and then you can just use your harmony remote. THat's what I do with my DC-1. The Logitech Harmony controls the volume on the DC-1 (as well as the inputs). Use this to find your device compatibility support.myharmony.com/en-us/compatibilityFor instance the SMSL SU-8 is compatible. So is the Emotiva DC-1 and the Schiit Freya. |
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Post by jdubs on Jan 19, 2021 17:52:27 GMT -5
Garbulky- I got the Modi 3+. No remote. Which brings me to...
My music server (RPi) can be connected via USB or HDMI. If I connect via USB I have to stand up and flip a switch on the DAC when I want to listen to music. If I have it connected via HDMI to the TV (tv is hdmi switching source and connected via optical to DAC) the TV has to stay on to pass the audio. But PiCorePlayer doesn’t output anything pleasing like “Now Playing”. It just has a system script. And the TV senses the input the whole time so a screen saver doesn’t come on.
Long story short: might need a remote controlled DAC to really make this work the way I want it to.
*** Edit to say: my LG TV might have an option to tun off the screen... I'll need to dig a little deeper. And also see if I can get the harmony to run a macro to do it. That might all be a big ask. Honestly the Fusion Flex amp can stay in the system if I can figure out the screen issue when listening to music. ***
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Post by jdubs on Jan 22, 2021 20:27:39 GMT -5
Living with this for now.
Sources: Roku Premier, Samsung Blu-ray player, Raspberry Pi PiCorePlayer all connected to my LG TV via HDMI.
LG TV Optical out outputting PCM to a Schiit Modi 3 DAC.
DAC is connected to an older Fusion Flex amp (if anyone has any of these floating around they would like to sell, I’ll make you an offer). Flex amp goes to Elac Debut 2.0 5.2 speakers and also an older Mordaunt-Short subwoofer.
All controlled by a Harmony remote. There is an IR repeater system in there to make sure control get thru to all components.
It sounds very good for speakers on a mantle that are vertically off axis. I don’t miss the surround at all and the Elacs image well enough for on-screen action.
As was mentioned above, I might make some changes to work some kinks out in the control chain. It would make more sense for the RPi to be USB out as well. These issues notwithstanding, I’m pleased with it. Now I’m missing my outdoor system amplifier as I raided it for the Flex. Not a big deal in the winter but I’ll be needing it soon.
I had purchased an A-100 for this that is now sitting in a box. I see bedroom/head-fi system in the works... 🧐
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Post by selind40 on Jan 22, 2021 21:08:21 GMT -5
I've got an XSP-1 Gen 2 sitting...not sure you looking for a Pre-amp still?? It works awesome, as long as you leave it turned on or have a hair dryer handy.  I bought a Schiit Freya+ to try the tube thing. |
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Post by jdubs on Jan 22, 2021 21:14:53 GMT -5
I've got an XSP-1 Gen 2 sitting...not sure you looking for a Pre-amp still?? It works awesome, as long as you leave it turned on or have a hair dryer handy. I bought a Schiit Freya+ to try the tube thing. That’s a nice pre... used to have one. I can only use small form components in this system though! |
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Post by jdubs on Jan 27, 2021 9:46:11 GMT -5
In the ongoing saga of this journey, my old Mordaunt-Short subwoofer took a dump and my tv repairman brother-in-law replaced some bad caps but it still won't power on. Soooo, using it with just the speakers for now and looking at options.
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I bought a Schiit Freya+ to try the tube thing.