[mplee79]

I recently purchased a Fatman Itube Carbon Fatman iTube ValveDock Carbon Edition 2 and picked up a set of Infinity P162 speakers. The system does what it says and sounds quite decent for small room listening. Overall a nice system but after reading through some forums, i feel as though i could get more for my money (550-600). For instance, I am somewhat disappointed in the lack of inputs and outputs: 2 rca inputs, one 1/8 input, no digital inputs. S video output that only works with videos that you have on your ipod (i've yet to get this to work properly). No headphone out!


My original intentions in purchasing the system was to have a quality listening setup for my rather "cozy (13 ' 17)" condo living room. I was planning to use lossless files on my laptop tied in with airport express. The itube doesn't have a digital input and i have recently read horrid reviews about the analog out on the airport express.

So therefore, if i wanted quality sound from the system, i'd have to leave my iphone docked...which can be such a nuisance.

To make a long story short... I'm very confused at the moment as to what to do about the system. My current needs are mainly to have a quality 2 channel setup for my living room with the possibility of future expansion. I have limited experience with audio equipment. In fact, I was not aware that A/V receivers could be used for a 2 channel setup. I have a few questions and would greatly appreciate any help.

1. Will a receiver like the Denon AVR-2308CI provide me with similar or better listening experiences when compared with a valve amp such as the Fatman iTube

2. How would you setup the receiver so that all the power is dedicated to the 2 channel system (with a subwoofer)

3. Would the receiver appropriately drive a high impedance set of headphones such as the HD580s 300 ohm

4. Please recommend a quality receiver used or new in the 400-500 price range.

 

[oldskoolboarder]

Problem w/ AVRs in that range is that the headphone stages aren't very good. I have a Pio Elite 45TX and the headphone stage is adequate at best. It was probably about $900 about 5 or 6 years ago.

I bought a 2 channel Rotel 1070 pre amp and the headphone out was miles better. But that alone costs $300 used. You have to determine which is more important to drive, speakers or headphones.

If you do want an AVR, then your question should be which one has the best headphone out. That I do not know. Alternately, you could get a quality AVR for $400 and then just get a headphone amp. Connect a lineout from the AVR to the line in of the headphone amp and you have a way to use your headphones properly.

 

[endless402]

neither.
the fatman series from my experience has a lack of bite and not that great in terms of resolution


look for nad, cambridge audio, rotel

my vote goes for a nad 325bee or a cambridge audio 540 v2 which are both in that price range or below

though i havent heard that specific model, from my experience with infinity speakers, theyre a little on the brighter side so the Nad may work better for you


these amps will have no problem matching speakers all the way to the $800 range.