REC: AMP + DAC FOR PASSIVE BOOKSHELF MONITORS AND HEADPHONES (<300€)

[diospiro]

Hi Fi community,
 
I recently won a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Bookshelf Speakers (8 ohm / 15-70W) 
My headphones are HiFiman Re-400
 
Could you advise me on a Dac+Amp that can drive both outputs? My maximum budget is 300€ for the combination, considering they can be all-in-one or separated.
 
Thanks a bunch  

 

[PurpleAngel]

I would say to get a used stereo receiver or used A/V receiver.
 
The website AVforum is based out of the UK, might be able to point you to the best deals for audio equipment in Europe.

 

[diospiro]

Thank you for answering. Not into buying a used receiver as it is difficult to understand if there is any problem. As I live in Portugal it even gets more difficult. 
 
I was looking at he Onkyo A9010 that is a full-sized Stereo Receiver but would like to consider a smaller more compact option with a built in dac that I can connect directly from my PC. Any ideas? 

 

[buke9]

Thank you for answering. Not into buying a used receiver as it is difficult to understand if there is any problem. As I live in Portugal it even gets more difficult. 

I was looking at he Onkyo A9010 that is a full-sized Stereo Receiver but would like to consider a smaller more compact option with a built in dac that I can connect directly from my PC. Any ideas? 

Though I have not heard it myself but it is the size your looking for is a Teac AI 101DA.

 

[diospiro]

thanks! the 101 seems amazing and pretty fit for what I need. do you think that the 26W will be a good pair with the Audio Monitor Speakers? My only concern is that it isn't enough power

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  thanks! the 101 seems amazing and pretty fit for what I need. do you think that the 26W will be a good pair with the Audio Monitor Speakers? My only concern is that it isn't enough power

 
How far are you going to sit from the speakers? If you'll be within 2m of them it won't be a problem.

 

[diospiro]

in the beggining they will work as desktop speakers, but later I intend to put them in a small living room, which will require more power. 
 
I think I will go for a chunkier Amplifier such as the Onkyo tx9010 and pair it with a Udac3

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  in the beggining they will work as desktop speakers, but later I intend to put them in a small living room, which will require more power. 

 

But how far will your seat be from them in that living room? If your head is less than 2m away from each then 26watts per channel can be enough.

 

[diospiro]

way more than 2 meters, in half an year i may need them to fill a whole 20sqm living room or even more 

 

[buke9]

way more than 2 meters, in half an year i may need them to fill a whole 20sqm living room or even more 

I think you should belooking for better speakers to fill that size of room.

 

[diospiro]

i know, but at the moment it is what i'll have available. so i want to take the full out of them. maybe the best experience will come from the onkyo 9010. would love to hear an opinion from people that have tried them

 

[buke9]

i know, but at the moment it is what i'll have available. so i want to take the full out of them. maybe the best experience will come from the onkyo 9010. would love to hear an opinion from people that have tried them

You know you are asking that question on HeadFi ? There might be someone but they haven't said anything yet.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I think you should belooking for better speakers to fill that size of room.

 

The absolute room size doesn't matter as much as how far away the speakers are from each other and how far away the listener is. You can put a desktop system in a stadium and use it as a desktop system and do well with just 10watts per channel.

 

If anything the great thing about a large room means that, depending on how you can set everything up, the speakers and your seat can be farther from the walls, minimizing the audible effects of reflections. Sit close enough and don't set the speakers too far apart (and with the correct toe in), and you won't necessarily need gobs of power as long as you get enough clean power. 

 

[diospiro]

thanks for taking the time to explai. I meant that I might need them to work at a distance around 3 meters the teac might not be enough for this

 

[sunToxx]

You could have a look at Creative X7. It sells for around 300 now I think.