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desktop amplifier for audioengine A5's

post #1 of 11
11/12/10 at 10:11am
Thread Starter 

Hey all, 

 

I was hoping you could shed some wisdom on an unwisely long time head-fi forum lurker. I am looking at picking up some A5's to use with my PC to listen to music, and play a few games, watch a few movies etc. I understand I would benefit somewhat by using a dedicated DAC rather than the onboard soundcard. I would like a bit of advise around possible options. I've done quite a bit of research and can't decide between the udac-2, ZERO, FUN, musiland monitor-02 - they all seem to have favourable reviews but they aren't often compared to each other. The FUN looks good, I hear it's pretty good bang for buck (despite it being $350USD for the A).

 

I would like to plug a few devices into the AMP, specifically my PC and an xbox 360. I may get a boxee box down the track for movies so 3 inputs would be ideal (USB, SPDIF, COAX) would be fine as long as they're selectable on the unit. Given this requirement am I better off getting an entry level AV amp such as an onkyo (like http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/av_components/av_receivers/tx-sr607/index.html) or am I still better to go with a little DAC like the ones I have mentioned?

 

To be honest I don't listen to alot of music on my headphones (poor old HD25's dont get much use these days!) so it's not important the DAC has a headphone output. Without this requirement I'm wondering once again whether a dedicated amp is a better choice. Does your entry level onkyo have a DAC a) better than onboard sound on a new motherboard b) comparable sound to a cheapo chinese made amp.

 

Your advice very much appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

Stew

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post #2 of 11
11/12/10 at 10:55am
Getting an amp for a pair of active monitors would be redundant, get a DAC + Switcher if you're running out of inputs and you don't care about not amping your headphones.
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post #3 of 11
11/12/10 at 11:18am

c6174691 is correct. By using an amp with the Audioengines, you would be biamping, a practice widely criticized by many here (including me.)

 

What you would need for a DAC is one with a line-out, and to use that, thus bypassing the amp section. I personally believe that standalone DACs are the best value if you want just the DAC: things like the Pro-Ject USB box, Fubar II, etc. (though those are both USB only)

 

If you want to amp headphones as well, a combo amp would indeed be a good way to go. Of those, I like the Zero, though the FUN is highly regarded I haven't yet had the chance to hear it. Just be sure to plug the speakers into the line out and the headphones into the headphone port.


Edited by revolink24 - 11/12/10 at 11:19am
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post #4 of 11
11/12/10 at 11:49am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I thought I'd read somewhere that the ZERO wouldn't be 'grunty' enough? Given the speakers have their own amp essentially all the device would be doing is converting the digital signal to analogue, so is this a moot point? (excuse my ignorance if what I have just repeated is blasphemous!). 

 

Does the ZERO still stand up to the other options available nowadays?

 

c6174696: Would you be able to link me to one of these switchers you speak of? Does it mean I just need the one input on the DAC and then can switch the source before it gets to it?

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post #5 of 11
11/12/10 at 12:05pm

get a preamp from audio gd

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post #6 of 11
11/12/10 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheUpbeat View Post

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I thought I'd read somewhere that the ZERO wouldn't be 'grunty' enough? Given the speakers have their own amp essentially all the device would be doing is converting the digital signal to analogue, so is this a moot point? (excuse my ignorance if what I have just repeated is blasphemous!). 

 

Does the ZERO still stand up to the other options available nowadays?

 

c6174696: Would you be able to link me to one of these switchers you speak of? Does it mean I just need the one input on the DAC and then can switch the source before it gets to it?


Yes, it would be just converting the signal (to line-level). Just plug it into the line out RCA on the Zero and you're set. That's all you need. 

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sup View Post

get a preamp from audio gd


Why?

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post #7 of 11
11/12/10 at 1:51pm

What do you mean "why"? You don't know what preamp is for?

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post #8 of 11
11/12/10 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sup View Post

What do you mean "why"? You don't know what preamp is for?



I know full well what a preamp is for. I just really don't think it's at all necessary for this use.

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post #9 of 11
11/12/10 at 2:15pm

I use the compass as a preamp for the A5's and I can tell you for a fact that the improvement in sound is very very audible/discernable. Before going the Preamp route, I had them connected to a Dacmagic. Seriously, get a Fun or there is a compass in the classifieds dirt cheap and you can pick that up. The compass is a decent headphone amp as well so you get dual functionality

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post #10 of 11
11/12/10 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by revolink24 View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sup View Post

What do you mean "why"? You don't know what preamp is for?



I know full well what a preamp is for. I just really don't think it's at all necessary for this use.


 

not necessary, true. But so is the amp for my K272s...

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post #11 of 11
11/12/10 at 4:56pm
Thread Starter 

if DAC > Motherboard sound then for me, it's a no brainer. I'm still sorta left wondering which DAC though, does a FUN B sound nicer than a ZERO? Seems toslink switchers are cheap as, so maybe there isn't a need for multiple inputs afterall.

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