Current setup:
Apple TV locally storing music (most lostless) Toslink to
Sony 333ES receiver (so using the receivers DAC)
to
B&W 602 S2's around
System time is split pretty evenly between 5.1 HT viewing and 2.1 music through the Apple TV. So ideally, the next upgrade would benefit me in both.
My thoughts on next upgrade ($1500 budget or less...hopefully):
Receiver: could use some more power, audyssey sounds nice, no HDMI in my
current, some annoying features i'd like to upgrade, upgraded DAC?
Looking at Marantz 6004. Would benefit both HT and music listening I'd hope but probably only marginally all around.
External DAC: As I've converted music to "file" format I do see a need for DAC improvement. I could get a fairly inexpensive one but would really only help with 2.1 music listening.
Peachtree NOVA: Benefit of external DAC, possibly better amplification over my receiver? not sure... but again, really only helping w/ 2.1 listening.
Or seperates like Emotiva...
What's going to be my best all around bang for my buck?
-Reviews on the NOVA are amazing however I'll have a receiver with a built in DAC already and only helping music listening, which is barely 50% time the system is in use.
-An upgraded receiver gives me a handful of "goodies" that would benefit all areas of the system but not dramatically in any one area I'd say--am I wrong about this?
-An external DAC is the cheapest option but would it be that much better than existing DAC built into receiver or on a new receiver if i went that route?
Thanks in advance!!!