Redcarmoose
Headphoneus Supremus
Totally overhauled, uh, replaced my speaker system after saving for about a year at a weekend summer job. Tweaking now. Lots of fun. For the first time, I have a dedicated separate DAC that has a preamp for my stereo and is connected to a computer, traditional 2 way stereo (CD playback and Sonos) with a HP amp which was my single largest purchase. I really like being able to control everything from the external DAC, having the preamp function and being able to listen via HP on the same device
It's from Nuprime who took over the "high end" product line of Nuforce and have several new products. I really like and would recommend something called the IDA-16 to anyone who is in the market for a nice DAC/integrated digital amp that has a bunch of digital and analog ins/outputs. I demoed the IDA at my house and almost went for the IDA. It's sweet for sure. I would have gone with it if it had the HP amp feature I wanted.
But, I wanted to be able to access the DAC w/ HPs in addition to speakers. And with the integration of DAC and amp, there doesn't seem to be a way to throw in a HP amp. We tried. But, I loved the sound of this amp-very clean, transparent-200 W and will decode anything. We tried it with my Sonos lossless files and they sounded as good if not better than my CD playback. It's new and starting to pick up some good reviews. For once piece of gear to access all your digital music, anolog sources with a nice DAC-I thought it was terrific...
http://www.goodsound.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/607-nuprime-ida-16-integrated-amplifier-dac
So, I ended up with the Nuprime DAC 10H-same company which is pretty much the same DAC offered as a separate component (a slight upgrade-but basically the same DAC) with a preamp and HP amp with balanced and standard outs with high and low gain. I'm loving this piece of kit:
http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/product/dac-headphone-amps/home-audio-dacs/dac-10h
Speakers-Sjofn (The Clue) that I heard with Clones amp at Capital Audio Fest last July in D.C. They're a unique small speakers designed to utilize the walls of a smaller room and produce a really full range-the base in particular is phenomenal in a monitor style speaker. They have some very specific placement recommendations-but were ideal for my space. It was jus a matter of hearing them in my room. And, luckily they sound awesome. They're not right for every space-but they are for mine. I had also heard the KEFL50 that I recently posted about and some Neat speakers all of which I liked, but I got a great deal on the Clues-bought the guys demo pair sill under warranty, etc. and I will NOT be needing to add a sub as I probably would have been tempted to do with the KEFs and the synergy with the amp I bought and the sound in my room floored me.
http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/09/19/second-thoughts-digging-in-to-the-clue-from-sjofn-hifi/
http://www.cnet.com/news/subwoofer-deep-bass-from-a-small-speaker/
Pairing them with a Clones Amp (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-power-amplifiers/stereo-amplifiers/clones-audio-25p-power-amplifier-review.html)
and tweaking with some acoustic paneling...bought some nice cables and interconnects for the first time really....the largest single audio purchase of my life. Luckily, I was able to work almost every weekend last year during the kayaking season here in DC (big spot for WW) and made a bunch of dough on the side so my wife can't bitchIt's my money-yo....mortgage and bills are paid!
So-got some great gear from this guy whose working out of his house and brings the gear to your home. A lot of what I bought was his demo gear that I got at a great cost. I wouldn't have been able to afford everything from a retail shop.
Oh-to make this tangentially (do I sound like an attorney-I'm not) related to metal-from another recent post-I put together my audition music-a lot of non metal but here were my metal tracks:
Tool/Lateralus-The Grudge (if I could pick one track-this is one of my faves)
Opeth-/Ghost Reveries-Ghost of Perdition-just love this song-has that older Opeth DM vocals with all the proggy dynamics I like
Kreator-Phantom Antichrist-Flood into Fire, Civilization, Collapse-this is just a great well produced banger of a modern thash album. Plenty heavy, reasonably melodic and it flat out kicks ass
Soundgarden/Badmotor Finger (one of my favorite 90's albums)-Outshined-great sludgey guitar riff
Dream Theater/Train of Thought-As I Am-not the biggest DT fan-but this album rock pretty well and it's a more song oriented album IMO with less of the cheese
Not metal, but looking for that one classical epic piece that translates well for symphonic BM, etc. The Gladiator soundtrack-The Battle (second track) is awesome. Plus for some reason a lot of metal heads love the Gladiator soundtrack. I also like TLOTR trilogy soundtracks, but whatever.
I've spent a lot of money on other hobbies-a schiit ton on kayaking boats, classes and gear, dogs and other crap, an acting career in my late 20's...
But, it took me nearly 50 years to buy the stereo I wanted
I hope you get yours a lot sooner than that :veryevil:
Whew!
Not only is the stereo super cool, but you accomplished it in a great way by earning extra money on your own so wife could be happy too. That is maybe the single hardest thing, to balance life and have great (expensive) audio.
