@pcosmic
I noticed my setup is inline with
this article, the key difference being I am using a power amp instead of an intergrated amp with HT bypass & because the power amp does not have any volume control I cannot use my 1060 for that & therefore volume control is via the steamer which has a digital pre-amp that is by default off but was relevant for my scenario & hence I turned it on.
To quote a paragraph:
"The major benefit here is a big one: because all two-channel sources are connected to the stereo amp (or the 851W in my case), which exclusively powers the front-left and front-right speakers,
they completely bypass the surround components. This is pure, unadulterated hi-fi, but you also have a full surround sound system for a properly cinematic experience. "
If the above is true, then how will 2 CH DSP from the 1060 have any effect on my CXN? Because to apply the DSP the source has to be input directly to & be processed by the 1060 correct?
As for the other observations & pointers you highligted:
Step 1.1: Yes that is correct
Step 1.2: Yes that is correct. However I did not intent to setup the 1060 as a pre-amp, tbh I was actually ignorant of that fact, not realising that would be be outcome? Because the streamer is also playing the part of a pre-amp for 2 channel. Does that mean I now have 2 pre-amps in my setup?
A) Cambridge CXN V2 in "preamp mode" is a standalone streamer+digital preamp. When you connect it's analog balanced output to the 851W analaog balanced in, it is a standalone 2 channel hifi setup. You will control volume through your remote or your "stream magic" app. This is your 2 channel hifi option.
B) Yamaha 1060 is a standalone streamer+preamp+poweramp in one box ( a.k.a, a receiver). When you connect this receiver's pre-outs to a external power amp (the 851W, in this case) and choose to not use its built in power amp section, it is a standalone streamer+preamp. In this case, the 1060 can serve as i) a multichannel preamp (surround processor) for multi channnel music or movies or ii) as a 2 channel preamp for 2 channel music.
Your digital sources for the 1060 are streaming through Yamaha Musiccast (Pandora, tidal, etc), DLNA server or digital flac files on a flashdrive plugged into the 1060's USB input.
C) Do not plug the CXNV2's analog RCA output to Audio 2 (analog in) of the 1060 AVR. I'll explain why this is not a good scenario. You have a good DAC implementation in your CXNV2 or you're supposed to in theory (because of the price you paid). When you plug it into a analog input of the AVR, you're re-digitizing the analog input to use the AVR's DSP/bass management/PEQ/etc features. In other words, the analog input goes through a analog to digital conversion. So, you've nullified the CXN's DAC. The quality of your audio now hinges on the quality of the DAC implementation and preamp sections of the AVR anyways.
Keep this in mind, DAC/ADC/DAC is not good!
D) If you insist on using the CXNV2 as the source for this receiver, you can use it as a "
digital transport". This means you connect the CXNV2's optical output to 1060's optical input (audio 1 or audio 2). The latter bypasses the CXNV2's DAC and brings it as a digital signal (not analog) to the 1060. The quality of your audio now hinges on the quality of the DAC implementation and preamp sections of the AVR and how good CXNV2 is as a transport. I can already tell you this is a much better option than what you are doing in C.
E) Now, after you have gone through all the steps i've mentioned on my earlier comment to optimize make the Yamaha streamer+preamp (described in B) to sound better, make a sound quality comparison of
Standalone Yamaha setup as a 2 channel streamer+preamp+851W VS Standalone Cambridge CXN 2 channel streamer+preamp+851W
In other words, could B (when setup for 2 channel) beat A in sound quality?
Or does D beat A?
Or does D beath both A and B?
Compare and let us know!
