Need help complete a stereo setup

[Hao]

I moved into my house last year, and discovered right away that it came with 2 Bose outdoors speakers in the backyard. The family room is pre-wired. I started to put together a small Sonos setup for simplicity's sake, but I can't ignore the gorgeous weather now and how much I yearn to be outside with some music.

Out came my inner audioholic from my younger days, when I dreamed of having a Mcintosh setup when I couldn't afford to buy a set of decent cables. Anyway I got my hands on a Denon DRA 565RD for free. It is connected to the Bose speakers outdoors. I am looking for another pair of bookshelf speakers to add to the living room and take advantage of the additional zone the receiver can drive.

Don't laugh, but my primary music source is going to be spotify/sat radio/pandora from a computer or iphone/ipad. I don't own any CDs anymore. I have no interest in movie surround sound - just some good clean stereo music.

Challenge and limitation - the receiver has no digital input, so I got a RCA-mini to connect my source device. I don't love the sound. I like the sound much better with a CD. And that while I might add a record player and get some vinyl from neighbors, I am committed to my internet music as a source. I know some of you audiophiles might chuckle at that, but that's what I am dealing with. Also most importantly,I am now married with a kid. I can no longer drop a ton of money on audio equipment.

Questions - 1. Is there a device (perhaps a pre-amp?) that would enhance the signal from my device (laptop/iphone/ipad)? Or is there a compelling receiver with digital music capabilities built in that you would urge me to look at, and it doesn't cost a ton? 2. What bookshelf speakers are best bang for buck under $300?

Thank you.

 

[TheWarrior]

I would not buy another receiver until you are certain of your future needs/upgrades! Not knowing what file types you are using for music makes it difficult to advocate a different type of connection.

For speakers, go buy a pair of Philharmonic Audio Affordable Accuracy monitors. You cannot beat these speakers for value, because Dennis Murphy (who does participate on this forum) builds them for fun, not profit. They have far more bass than bookshelf speakers are typically capable of, making them perfect for music without subwoofer.

 

[2channel lover]

Nothing wrong with Spotify, etc. as your source, but remember you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can improve (slightly) on your SQ from these internet music sources. As Warrior suggested, you need to make an investment in a new AV.

What's happening now is by using your ipod/ipad, as the source you are using a digital to audio converter (DAC) designed for personal listening. When connected to a home audio system it gets exposed for the SQ that you would like to improve.

A new AV with USB connections would allow you to bypass the DAC in the computer or Ipod and use the one in the AV...again the SQ improvement will be slight but it will be an improvement...as you get access to more 16/44 (CD quality) music, the SQ will improve even more.

If you get the Phils Warrior mentioned...you will wonder what was I listening to with those Bose.

 

[Hao]

Bose will stay because they are a pair of old outdoors speakers and I really won't want to invest for any backyard listening. I'd just be happy to have them.

 

[Pogre]

Bose will stay because they are a pair of old outdoors speakers and I really won't want to invest for any backyard listening. I'd just be happy to have them.

When you say things like "inner audioholic" and "McIntosh" doesn't put me in mind of someone who doesn't want to invest in a system...

As far as sound quality cd's or lossless music files are about the best you can do. IME, some of the streaming options sound compressed and there's not much you can do about that.

 

[MrBoat]

The Bose are more the weak link than your source, IMO. I use the same internet generated sources as you describe and use a simple Y cable from my PC to RCA inputs on a 14 yr old Denon AVR. I have since tried 3 different sets of speakers, with starting from just adequate (my 30+ yr old party speakers) to kick-a$$. Adding a subwoofer took it yet further. Still, I was getting good sound from even 30 year old party amps with this connection.

Pandora etc are not the 'audiophile' ideal perhaps, but it is good enough to at least contend with the ground level source itself, which is the actual recording quality of the music to start with.

Youtube's HD offerings aren't too shabby and I have compared to CDs and again, this was more original recording quality dependent, and the speakers themselves.

Once you start nitpicking between digital vs analog, you end up having to clean house everywhere else too, which can be a lot to go thru to listen to music and it ends up just being easier to start with good speakers anyway.

 

[Pogre]

The Bose are more the weak link than your source, IMO. I use the same internet generated sources as you describe and use a simple Y cable from my PC to RCA inputs on a 14 yr old Denon AVR. I have since tried 3 different sets of speakers, with starting from just adequate (my 30+ yr old party speakers) to kick-a$$. Adding a subwoofer took it yet further. Still, I was getting good sound from even 30 year old party amps with this connection.

Pandora etc are not the 'audiophile' ideal perhaps, but it is good enough to at least contend with the ground level source itself, which is the actual recording quality of the music to start with.

Youtube's HD offerings aren't too shabby and I have compared to CDs and again, this was more original recording quality dependent, and the speakers themselves.

Once you start nitpicking between digital vs analog, you end up having to clean house everywhere else too, which can be a lot to go thru to listen to music and it ends up just being easier to start with good speakers anyway.

Agree 100%. If a penny is spent on this system it should seriously be spent on better speakers first.

 

[Hao]

Bose aren't my main ones - they are outdoors and I wouldn't spend money upgrading outdoor speakers. I ended up picking up a pair of B&W DM601's with my old free Denon. They are sounding pretty nice. My bottleneck now is that my Denon has no digital input so I can't digitally amplify my source signal. any idea?

 

[MrBoat]

Bose aren't my main ones - they are outdoors and I wouldn't spend money upgrading outdoor speakers. I ended up picking up a pair of B&W DM601's with my old free Denon. They are sounding pretty nice. My bottleneck now is that my Denon has no digital input so I can't digitally amplify my source signal. any idea?

I just use the software for the soundcard/chip on my pc. In my case it's Realtek, which comes with DTS software with a volume cntrl, graphic EQ, 7 channel surround etc. I have a multimedia keyboard so there is a volume cntrl on there as well. Usually I just turn the computer source all the way up and control the volume with the remote that came with the Denon.

 

[-Jim-]

You could get an external USB sound card for the Computer if there are no decent output (with Line Level connections) from the PC.

Another method for the iPad would b to get a Bluetooth receiver to connect to the Denon DRA 565RD Receiver. Then the tweaks available on the iPad can help adjust the sound.

 

[Hao]

You could get an external USB sound card for the Computer if there are no decent output (with Line Level connections) from the PC.

Another method for the iPad would b to get a Bluetooth receiver to connect to the Denon DRA 565RD Receiver. Then the tweaks available on the iPad can help adjust the sound.

OK this caught my attention.There's a bluetooth receiver that can connect to an all-analog receiver? Can you please recommend?

 

[Roen]

I would not buy another receiver until you are certain of your future needs/upgrades! Not knowing what file types you are using for music makes it difficult to advocate a different type of connection.

For speakers, go buy a pair of Philharmonic Audio Affordable Accuracy monitors. You cannot beat these speakers for value, because Dennis Murphy (who does participate on this forum) builds them for fun, not profit. They have far more bass than bookshelf speakers are typically capable of, making them perfect for music without subwoofer.

Another contender is the Ascend 340SE.

I currently serve music from my PC using Serviio over the Wifi using DLNA to my Yamaha receiver. Perhaps that would work for you?

 

[TheWarrior]

Another contender is the Ascend 340SE.

I currently serve music from my PC using Serviio over the Wifi using DLNA to my Yamaha receiver. Perhaps that would work for you?

Thanks, but not for me!

 

[-Jim-]

OK this caught my attention.There's a bluetooth receiver that can connect to an all-analog receiver? Can you please recommend?

I have a Bluetooth Receiver that came with some Bluetooth headphones (with RCA connectors to input into my old receiver) and for streaming from my iPhone it worked great.

I suggest you look to something like this on the low end of the spectrum => only $15:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=120&cp_id=10827&cs_id=1082704&p_id=7364&seq=1&format=2

However, for your purposes I'd probably head for a Logitech unit for $23 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-980-000910-Bluetooth-Adapter-Streaming/dp/B00IQBSW28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499842304&sr=8-1&keywords=logitech+bluetooth+audio+adapter+bluetooth+receiver

See the review here: https://www.cnet.com/products/logitech-bluetooth-music-receiver/review/


These are cheap and cheerful options, so you don't have to invest a lot to get decent results. You can go to about $300 for the high end units but I doubt you'd see the benefit in your application.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[Roen]

Thanks, but not for me!

Sorry, meant to quote the OP.