Replacing old dac/amp.

[globalek]

Hi everyone,

I don't know much about audio that's why I'm asking you guys for help. I own a Schiit magni2/modi2 stack which I'm planning to get rid of. I've had a lot of problems with it so I would like to get something new that will last me years. The problem is I don't know what I need. Do I need a stereo amplifier, receiver, network streamer, all in one or just another dac/amp?

I use my PC as a main source of music (youtube, spotify, apple music, mp3, flac). I have a pair of active stereo speakers (with BT connectivity) connected to my my PC using optical connection. I wanted to stream music from my Iphone to the speakers over BT but the quality wasn't there. I also have a wired headphones currently connected to my Schiit stack and the stack is connected to PC using usb cable.

Current spec:
PC (source, onboard audio)
Iphone (source)
Schiit Magni2/Modi2 (it needs to go)
Kanto Y4 (active speakers with BT)
Hifiman he-400s

I will be getting Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds in the near future.

I would like to connect a PC (wired), Iphone (wireless), headphones (wired/wireless), active speakers (wired/wireless) to my new audio device. Airplay, internet radio streaming and NAS connectivity would be great to have. Volume knob and headphone jack port on the front is a must. The smaller the better. Budget is £1000/$1400. What device I need? Is a integrated amplifier an overkill for my needs? Marantz PM7000N looks ok but it's huge. Is that a good choice or overkill?

I hope you will forgive me my lack of knowledge.

 

[lovinthehd]

What are the issues with your current gear? Why look to BT instead of wifi for wireless audio?

 

[globalek]

What are the issues with your current gear? Why look to BT instead of wifi for wireless audio?

Dac is faulty. It needs heating up using hair dryer to work. It's a common issue with Modi 2.
I'm ok with using wifi instead of BT with new gear but at the moment I don't think I have an option to do that.

 

[PENG]

Hi everyone,

I don't know much about audio that's why I'm asking you guys for help. I own a Schiit magni2/modi2 stack which I'm planning to get rid of. I've had a lot of problems with it so I would like to get something new that will last me years. The problem is I don't know what I need. Do I need a stereo amplifier, receiver, network streamer, all in one or just another dac/amp?

I use my PC as a main source of music (youtube, spotify, apple music, mp3, flac). I have a pair of active stereo speakers (with BT connectivity) connected to my my PC using optical connection. I wanted to stream music from my Iphone to the speakers over BT but the quality wasn't there. I also have a wired headphones currently connected to my Schiit stack and the stack is connected to PC using usb cable.

Current spec:
PC (source, onboard audio)
Iphone (source)
Schiit Magni2/Modi2 (it needs to go)
Kanto Y4 (active speakers with BT)
Hifiman he-400s

I will be getting Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds in the near future.

I would like to connect a PC (wired), Iphone (wireless), headphones (wired/wireless), active speakers (wired/wireless) to my new audio device. Airplay, internet radio streaming and NAS connectivity would be great to have. Volume knob and headphone jack port on the front is a must. The smaller the better. Budget is £1000/$1400. What device I need? Is a integrated amplifier an overkill for my needs? Marantz PM7000N looks ok but it's huge. Is that a good choice or overkill?

I hope you will forgive me my lack of knowledge.

Take a look and see if the Yamaha WX-A50 has the features you need.
Review and Measurements of Yamaha WXA-50 Streaming Amp | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

 

[globalek]

Take a look and see if the Yamaha WX-A50 has the features you need.
Review and Measurements of Yamaha WXA-50 Streaming Amp | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

Apart from not having headphone port on the front, it perfect.
So my best option is wireless integrated amplifier? I might not go for that yamaha but at least I know what device I need.
Thank you.

 

[PENG]

Apart from not having headphone port on the front, it perfect.
So my best option is wireless integrated amplifier? I might not go for that yamaha but at least I know what device I need.
Thank you.

I think you can add a little headphone amo to rhat Yamaha. Integrated amps generally suck, not good values, high profit margin products..

 

[lovinthehd]

Could you simply use the Schiit Magni still as headphone amp?

 

[globalek]

I think you can add a little headphone amo to rhat Yamaha. Integrated amps generally suck, not good values, high profit margin products..

Thanks. This might sound daft but I would like to get an all in one device (dac, amp, wifi, internet radio) in a small package. Does thing like that exist?
One more question. Should I be looking for a device with usb type b port if I would like to connect my PC and use it as an audio source?

 

[globalek]

Could you simply use the Schiit Magni still as headphone amp?

I would like to get rid of Schiit.

 

[PENG]

Thanks. This might sound daft but I would like to get an all in one device (dac, amp, wifi, internet radio) in a small package. Does thing like that exist?
One more question. Should I be looking for a device with usb type b port if I would like to connect my PC and use it as an audio source?

Something like this would work, but now you want Asynchronous USB port with you PC?
C 338 - NAD Electronics
C 368 - NAD Electronics
NA6006 Network Audio Player - Audiophile Quality with HEOS® | Marantz™
M-CR612 Network Audio Player - Network and CD Audio with HEOS® | Marantz™

There are many choices, though most all in one box are compromised in terms of audio specs in general. whether the relatively lower specs means lower sound quality or not is a different story.

When you mentioned USB B, I assume you meant using the PC with asynchronous USB DAC (including those build in with some integrate amps). Such devices often do have the USB-B type connectors but not always.