Recommendation for a music amplifier (low-end)?

[ImcLoud]

I don't like klipsch for anything lol, but that is just me {the heritage line is nice but ugly}....

Not to get into a big debate about an avr vs "separates" but in my personal experience avr's for music only are a pain to use, no onscreen displlay too many buttons all over the place too big, just a big messy waste of time... IMO

You will not need fmods if you get the sb1000 it will handle crossing your mains by itself..

So you would simply plug the apple into the d1 dac, then the dac into the sub and then the sub into your mains amp, use the d1's volume control and be done with it, simple...

As far as room correction and bass management, I will take that simple direct system {d1 dac with a dayton amp would be less than $300} against that avr any day of the week... you can upgrade it, its simple to use, small, and will sound better.

Now maybe that is stroking my ego, but IMO that is better than others stroking you......

We have had this conversation a bunch of times, separates vs an avr, but usually its for the ht side, with music only, I like a MUSIC ONLY system, since when you put your avr in pure direct mode, you will bypass most of the things that make that avr sound good for HT anyway.. they get outdated FAST. If you get a nice amp it will be worth 90 percent of what you paid in a few years, your avr will be worth 10 percent of what you paid if you are lucky.... Not to mention avr's are not reliable, I have had a couple fail, and have heard of many...

Im not sure what the denon costs but even if its cheaper, I would spend a little more on the d1 dac and the amp.


I would rather see you get a stereo receiver over an AVR, I can not believe we are even discussing this........ AVR audio/VIDEO Receiver... A4L has some good deals on Stereo recivers that will manage a subwoofer too...
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/YAMRS500BL/YAMAHA-R-S500-Natural-Sound-Stereo-Receiver/1.html and they have denons under $200

 

[shnjb]

Okay I will keep the Klipsch with the home theater then.

Will have to do some reading on the music receiver options.

 

[tmurnin]

Wait a minute. Are you trying to build a music-only system, or are you doing so just because you read someplace that "HT speakers aren't good for music"?

if you are deliberately trying to build a separate system that is music-only, then the advice above is perfectly fine. I get the feeling, though, that you are only doing this because you think you have to. If you like the Klipsch sound, you will probably like it for both movies and music. The vast majority of speakers will handle both movies and music perfectly well. I would set it up and listen first. If you don't like it, then you can decide to go another route.

 

[shnjb]

Wait a minute. Are you trying to build a music-only system, or are you doing so just because you read someplace that "HT speakers aren't good for music"?

if you are deliberately trying to build a separate system that is music-only, then the advice above is perfectly fine. I get the feeling, though, that you are only doing this because you think you have to. If you like the Klipsch sound, you will probably like it for both movies and music. The vast majority of speakers will handle both movies and music perfectly well. I would set it up and listen first. If you don't like it, then you can decide to go another route.

Im new to all this stuff and I just bought my Klipsch speakers for home theater and they haven't even been set up yet (someone is coming soon to wire them through the walls).

I don't have to have another music only stereo setup but I would like to because I want to keep the music area and home theater area separate if possible.
In fact I want to have multiple music areas throughout the house starting with this one with the pioneer speakers I just purchased.

 

[ImcLoud]

That is how my home is, I personally don't like the sound of klipsch speakers {the ones I have heard and owned any way heritage series excluded}.

I have 2 ch audio in almost every room of my house, plus the ht 5.2 and a whole house audio system through out the house and outside {4 porches}. We listen to them all and I set them all up different but similar to my tastes.. 2.2 bookshelf setups are my favorite... I use ipads, ipods, and pcs for sources {for the most part, I have sacd players and turntables too, but they hardly get touched}. If you are going to do multiple systems I recommend you figure out the sources first..

I will once again say I would not use an avr, they do not fit into my criteria of a music only system, I want good aesthetics {I am married}, convenient and easy to use, and good sound. AVR's are not easy to use {especially with out a monitor}, dont look as good{imo, it looks like you should have had a tv there}, and the sq is better with a shorter path and more simple system...

 

[sjcguy]

Have you checked out the Yamaha CRX-N560BL? It is small and has many feature and capabilities.

 

[shnjb]

Have you checked out the Yamaha CRX-N560BL? It is small and has many feature and capabilities.

Is spending 500 on amp and 140 on speakers a sensible thing to do?

I'm thinking about forgetting all of this and just buying the Dayton 100a.
I'm guessing I don't need dac for that?

 

[j_garcia]

Do you mean the Dayton 100a?

No, I meant the Emotiva Mini X A-100

mini-X a-100 | 50W x 2 | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amp

From PE, they have a newer model of the DTA, the DTA-120 and they also have the class AB APA150 which has a built in x-over for a sub as well.

Dayton Audio DTA-120 Class T Digital Mini Amplifier 60 WPC | 300-3800

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-apa150-150w-power-amplifier--300-812

 

[sjcguy]

Is spending 500 on amp and 140 on speakers a sensible thing to do?

I'm thinking about forgetting all of this and just buying the Dayton 100a.
I'm guessing I don't need dac for that?

Hm, I thought you wanted to have airplay capability. How about a used receiver from local CL?
And what is the pre-amp to use with Dayton 100a?

 

[ImcLoud]

Is spending 500 on amp and 140 on speakers a sensible thing to do?

I'm thinking about forgetting all of this and just buying the Dayton 100a.
I'm guessing I don't need dac for that?

That is what i htink you are losing about the simple music only system, grab a cheap amp $100 and be done with it, I owuld play them before deciding on if you want a sub...

 

[j_garcia]

Hm, I thought you wanted to have airplay capability. How about a used receiver from local CL?
And what is the pre-amp to use with Dayton 100a?

It has a volume control so you don't need a preamp. It is effectively a single input integrated amp and it is on sale because it was replaced by the one I linked earlier, the 120.

 

[PENG]

Hm, I thought you wanted to have airplay capability. How about a used receiver from local CL?
And what is the pre-amp to use with Dayton 100a?

That's what i thought too, that he wants to have Airplay and that's one reason why I thought an AVR would be viable.

 

[ImcLoud]

he can just add a $30 dac and use his apple tv...

 

[j_garcia]

Low budget and air play seemed to be at odds with each other. A full blown AVR is overkill for a music only system.

 

[shnjb]

I have an airport express which I can use. I was going to buy an extra one but since the point is to have a budget setup, I will just use the one I have (have to move routers around a little, no big deal).

 

[shnjb]

he can just add a $30 dac and use his apple tv...

Okay so in summary:

Buy:
30 dollar dac (some random one from amazon?)
Dayton 120
A sub (Dayton 12"?)

Already have:
Airport express
Pioneer bs22


Thank you so much everyone. This forum is BY FAR the most helpful when it comes to AV help.
AVS Forum was helpful only in some cases when I messaged someone I was referred to but in most cases people don't respond to newb threads

Great community here!!

 

[shnjb]

Cost of separate

DAC: $169.00
Amazon.com: Audioengine D1 24-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter: Computers & Accessories

Dayton 150: $158.88
Dayton Audio APA150 150W Power Amplifier | 300-812

Airport Express: $99

$425 (-$99 because I already have an Airport Express)



Cost of AVR
Denon E300: $399
Amazon.com: Denon AVR-E300 5.1 Channel 3D Pass Through and Networking Home Theater AV Receiver with AirPlay: Electronics


Does that sound about right guys?

 

[sjcguy]

I would not go with the Dayton + dac option. I would go with the yamaha N560BL or an used receiver + AppleTV. I found b&k, integra, denon receivers for less than $150 at my local CL (SF, bayarea ). You might want to pick up a sub too.

 

[shnjb]

I would not go with the Dayton + dac option. I would go with the yamaha N560BL or an used receiver + AppleTV. I found b&k, integra, denon receivers for less than $150 at my local CL (SF, bayarea ). You might want to pick up a sub too.

Hm do you think a newb can do a CL pickup?
I'm worried I will pick up some crap deadweight with problems.

The Yamaha is 450 bucks which is kinda high. Why is it a lot more expensive than the dac/Dayton combo?

 

[ImcLoud]

I would not go with the Dayton + dac option. I would go with the yamaha N560BL or an used receiver + AppleTV. I found b&k, integra, denon receivers for less than $150 at my local CL (SF, bayarea ). You might want to pick up a sub too.

Why not go integrated and dac? give him some reasons, instead of just saying not to do it... I can think of plenty of reasons not to get an avr {refer to my previous post} for a music only system..