Looking to upgrade my Onkyo Tx-8020 for my KEF LS50

[Goodband]

Hi guys,

I am looking to upgrade my Tx-8020 (that I will keep and use in a 2nd system). My budget is $700 cdn and I have the following options:

NAD C326 BEE:
Integrated amp (2.1),
2 x 50W Continuous Power into 4 ohms and 8 ohms.
100W, 150W, 200W IHF Dynamic power into 8, 4 and 2 ohms, respectively
No DAC (would use my Ibasso D7)
http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/C-326BEE-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifier

Marantz PM6006 (bstock):
Integrated amp (2.0),
45w/60w (8/4 ohm RMS),
internal DAC
http://www.ca.marantz.com/ca/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=HiFiComponents&SubCatId=0&ProductId=PM6006

Marantz NR1606 (bstock):
http://www.ca.marantz.com/ca/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=AVReceivers&SubCatId=0&ProductId=NR1606

Which one would you think would be the best fit for my Kef LS50? Do you think Audyssey could help improve the performance of my stereo system

Note: I don't plan to go multi channel in the future.

Current setup ( Flac file or Spotify premium Ibasso D7 DAC (Wolfson 8740 chip) Onkyo Tx-8020 Kef LS50 monoprice interconnect and Qed Ruby speaker cables

Thanks




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[lovinthehd]

I'd keep the Onkyo myself and spend the money on something more useful than sideways changes in electronics. Are you running into problems with clipping/distortion or is self protection is kicking in, or some similar issue, at your listening levels?

ps Missed that part about new unit They're all similar so I'd go with the best pricing or just pick one you've always wanted.....and for 2.0 don't think Audyssey will do much.

 

[Goodband]

I'd keep the Onkyo myself and spend the money on something more useful than sideways changes in electronics. Are you running into problems with clipping/distortion or is self protection is kicking in, or some similar issue, at your listening levels?

No problem so far! I might end up following your advice and buy a cheap little amp for my 2nd system and keep thw onkyo for my main system ... saving money is always good!!

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[lovinthehd]

Perhaps just buying a simple amp like an SMSL model?

 

[Goodband]

Perhaps just buying a simple amp like an SMSL model?

Exactly what I was thinking ... should be perfect for a bedroom system driving my Q Accoustic 2020!

I am totally happy with the Onkyo in my main system ... why spend $$ on a new amp when I can use a cheap one in a system gears towards background music.

Thanks for the advice lovinthehd ... you save me $600

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[PENG]

I tried my LS50 with an old Denon AVR vs my Halo A22/Cambridge audio preamp and found little audible difference if any. What makes a lot of difference is using it with a good subwoofer. I suggest you keep the Onkyo, save the money for high quality audio source (CD, SACD, digital PCM, DSD files etc.). Once you reach the LS50 and a good quality receiver or integrated amp and subwoofer(s), the quality of the audio source becomes most important if you are after sound quality. "Upgrading" to a lower power NAD is not going to do much for you.

 

[Goodband]

I tried my LS50 with an old Denon AVR vs my Halo A22/Cambridge audio preamp and found little audible difference if any. What makes a lot of difference is using it with a good subwoofer. I suggest you keep the Onkyo, save the money for high quality audio source (CD, SACD, digital PCM, DSD files etc.). Once you reach the LS50 and a good quality receiver or integrated amp and subwoofer(s), the quality of the audio source becomes most important if you are after sound quality. "Upgrading" to a lower power NAD is not going to do much for you.

Thanks for the advice!

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[Goodband]

I tried my LS50 with an old Denon AVR vs my Halo A22/Cambridge audio preamp and found little audible difference if any. What makes a lot of difference is using it with a good subwoofer. I suggest you keep the Onkyo, save the money for high quality audio source (CD, SACD, digital PCM, DSD files etc.). Once you reach the LS50 and a good quality receiver or integrated amp and subwoofer(s), the quality of the audio source becomes most important if you are after sound quality. "Upgrading" to a lower power NAD is not going to do much for you.

Since I had some $$ in my audio budget I went with your advice and ordered a source the Yamaha BD-S681 (CD/SADC/DVD/ Blu-Ray)
http://m.usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/blu-ray-disc-players/blu-ray-disc-players/bd-s681.html
I can't wait to bring back my CD collection and actually handle some physical discs!

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[lovinthehd]

Since I had some $$ in my audio budget I went with your advice and ordered a source the Yamaha BD-S681 (CD/SADC/DVD/ Blu-Ray)
http://m.usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/blu-ray-disc-players/blu-ray-disc-players/bd-s681.html
I can't wait to bring back my CD collection and actually handle some physical discs!

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What happened to your cd collection?

 

[Goodband]

What happened to your cd collection?

Nothing happen to it ... most of it has been extract as Flac files on my computer and store in boxes since I did not have a cd player anymore.

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[lovinthehd]

Nothing happen to it ... most of it has been extract as Flac files on my computer and store in boxes since I did not have a cd player anymore.

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I now use my cds as backups to my flac files for the most part; I play the flac files thru my system instead, saves wear and tear on the discs and is easier to manage and choose from. Same quality.

 

[Goodband]

I now use my cds as backups to my flac files for the most part; I play the flac files thru my system instead, saves wear and tear on the discs and is easier to manage and choose from. Same quality.

I like to handle the cds. I will still use the flac files for convenience but when doing more "active" listening, I will take time to pick a cd, use the player, read the booklet etc... I really enjoy doing it.

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[lovinthehd]

I like to handle the cds. I will still use the flac files for convenience but when doing more "active" listening, I will take time to pick a cd, use the player, read the booklet etc... I really enjoy doing it.

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Sounds like the same reason some of the guys say about playing vinyl records instead of digital copies or artwork files. Funny how that works sometimes Maybe your eyes are sharper to review the artwork/notes that come on cd's. Hard to roll a joint on a cd case, too LOL.

 

[Goodband]

Sounds like the same reason some of the guys say about playing vinyl records instead of digital copies or artwork files. Funny how that works sometimes Maybe your eyes are sharper to review the artwork/notes that come on cd's. Hard to roll a joint on a cd case, too LOL.

Lol ... your right about that!!

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[PENG]

I like to handle the cds. I will still use the flac files for convenience but when doing more "active" listening, I will take time to pick a cd, use the player, read the booklet etc... I really enjoy doing it.

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I have been buying CD and SACD until about 2 years ago when I finally got lazy and took the time to experiment using external DAC and Foobar (free) to play HD audio files. I mostly got my HD files from

http://www.hdtracks.com/ and recently also from:
https://www.nativedsd.com/new_browse/
http://www.primephonic.com/

There are many others but hdtracks has been around for a long time and service has been great. They all offer test/demo files so don't pay for anything until you try out this route and like it.

It takes a little effort to download Foobar and set up your DAC but once that's done you probably will have hard time going back to disc. I bet that's what happened to lovinhd too.

There are all sorts of low cost high quality DAC. In order to keep cost low they are probably all made in China, but if they work well for less why not? I have the >$1K Oppo 105 and HA-1 first, but I mostly use the cheap $160 Xduoo that plays PCM files up to 24bit/192kHz but not DSD. I really only use the more expensive ones for DXD and DSD files. I don't believe in spending much more than $1K on DAC but I do find it necessary to get one that plays everything up to PCM DXD and DSD 256. You have a decent yet dispensable disc/source player now so it is time to explore the original source, i.e. the music and probably need to try out an external DAC at the same time in order to do it right.

 

[Goodband]

You have a decent yet dispensable disc/source player now so it is time to explore the original source, i.e. the music and probably need to try out an external DAC at the same time in order to do it right.

I already have an external DAC (Ibasso D7) which work great but it only has one input (usb). I don't have a lot of High Res files ... mostly cd quality files ... I'll look at the site you mention and try the free samples.

Thanks

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[lovinthehd]

It takes a little effort to download Foobar and set up your DAC but once that's done you probably will have hard time going back to disc. I bet that's what happened to lovinhd too.

.

Yep big foobar2000 fan along with bubbleupnp app on the android, can send cd quality music from the pc to any system in my house via wifi....but just use the dacs inherent in each system's avr. Part of my cd buying routine is to immediately make a flac and most of the time I'll play the flac (and use the flac to burn a spare cd if I'm going to use it in an automobile).

 

[PENG]

Yep big foobar2000 fan along with bubbleupnp app on the android, can send cd quality music from the pc to any system in my house via wifi....but just use the dacs inherent in each system's avr. Part of my cd buying routine is to immediately make a flac and most of the time I'll play the flac (and use the flac to burn a spare cd if I'm going to use it in an automobile).

I am doing the same thing with my CD and the CD part of the SACDs too. Just want to add that I find some of my better CDs sound better than some of my HD files. The reason I concentrate on acquiring HD files is based on my logical assumption that the odds of getting well recorded/mastered music in 24/192 and DSD are greater. So far that has been my experience too, most of my HD files have better SQ than those lower than 24/88.2. To me, recording/mastering is most important part for sound quality, not format, bit rate and bit depth.

 

[lovinthehd]

I've not been impressed by format as much as quality production, cd is fine for my purposes. I've got a few of Dr Waldreps recordings but only a few of the artists' works interest me. I'll usually go bluray for multich hires if I'm going beyond cd. I have only one SACD (to get Pink Floyd DSotM in 5ch primarily).

 

[KenM10759]

I've ripped all my CD's (plus a lot of others) with my Bluesound Vault2 and now enjoy listening to stuff I rarely did from the lower shelf of the bookcase. I've also bought a few 24/96 files and got my hands on some MQA files, plus a Tidal Hi-Fi subscription. All of it controlled via android tablet or phone (IPhone and Ipad work too, I just won't buy them.) I got Blu-Ray mutli-channel in the form of the Eric Clapton Crossroads disks too but those are handled by BlueOS, just the player & receiver as normal.