Question for the group, if you had 700 ish dollars to spend on 2ch audio components, where would you put it? Speakers excluded. Would you buy a preamp (saga), a DAC (mimby), and a 100ish amp? Or would you go straight for a Vidar and a Sys to control it (adding better components down the line)?
I guess what I'm wondering, is what do people feel is the most important aspect of a system, aside from speakers or headphones?
Or rather what is the least important item?
I'm convinced that the DAC matters almost as much as the transducers. What component infers the least amount of flavor to the system?
I know (feel) that my cheap 2.1 pc speakers sounded way way better after putting them through mimby/magni, then they did straight from my iPad. Those pc speakers have to be class D right?
Is it just a case of the quality Schiit components mitigating the sound degradation that gets to the system?
Opinions, thoughts, and ramblings very much appreciated by those more knowledgeable then I.
I like this question! I'll share my personal experience with this. I built my 2 channel system from scratch over the better part of a year (and aside from one piece it's almost done). My main goal was to avoid buying stuff that I would want to upgrade or replace too soon. I had some cheap Monoprice powered monitors lying around that I bought mainly for backyard movie nights and get-togethers. I decided to use those until I could get the pair of speakers I wanted (LS50). I also had a pair of Tekton Pendragon subwoofers I got off craigslist for $40 each a while back (man, that was a steal). My 2-channel system is for music and home theater. Ideally those would be separate systems, but I'm not made of money and I love movies as much as music.
I decided to make my first purchase the Saga. It's overkill to feed $180 powered monitors, of course, but it's the piece I was going to buy eventually. Also, it was relatively new, all analog, it had all the features I wanted, and it was in my budget at the time, so I made the purchase confidently. It was perfect for hooking up multiple sources to both monitors and subwoofers and giving me remote volume control. I cannibalized the first generation Modi and Wyrd from my headphone setup (since I care much more about my 2-channel system). For music, that's what I use the vast majority of the time (connected to my phone or computer), though sometimes I listen through my turntable. For movies, I use a cheap optical DAC (FiiO TAISHAN-D03K) from my TV to the Saga. I also added some Etekcity Remote Control Outlets to help me turn everything on and off, and it allows me to quickly add the subs in and out of the system depending on what I'm listening to (or how late it is). All of the big purchases so far are analog, so I know I can use them for a long time.
I stayed with that setup quite happily for a long time, saving up and waiting for Schiit to release Vidar. Everything came together over the holidays when the LS50's dropped to $1k. Those, with a Vidar, was at the edge of my budget, but the timing felt right, so I went for it. This is the system I have been using ever since, and I am thrilled with it. I love every piece I've bought and don't feel like I need a better version of any of them right now, which is really nice.
Eventually, I will buy a new DAC. I really wanted a Bifrost multibit, but there hasn't been room in the budget yet. I was very tempted to buy a Modi Uber (possibly used) to simplify my setup (by getting rid of the Fiio) when I bought the Vidar, but I held off, because I knew it would leave my system eventually. I also strongly considered Mimby, and I almost bit when they were available B-stock for $199. However, deep down, I really want the Bimby, with the Gen 5 USB, upgrade-ability, and the ability to neatly stack with my Saga. So far, waiting to get the pieces I really want when I can afford it, as opposed to settling for lesser components that will either leave me feeling curious or eventually just get shifted out, has worked for me. The main board on the Bimby is now over 2.5 years old, so I'm keen at this point to wait for an update and bite when that becomes available. This might be a while, which is okay. Hopefully not too long though.
Lastly, to try and answer your question more directly, assuming I already had the speakers and about $700 to spend... I would find a way to stall until I had $1050 to spend on a Vidar/Saga combo by buying a very cheap integrated amplifier, or using literally anything I already had that could safely power my speakers. Or, if I really didn't need remote control or more than two sources... I would seriously consider the Sys/Vidar combo. I believe in the analog-components-first approach, since digital products usually advance more quickly (though recent innovation in the Schiit analog components has somewhat upended this trend). I also believe in getting products that I won't want to upgrade too soon. For instance, keeping in mind the $700 cap, maybe a Mimby + Emotiva A300 + Sys would give the best sound for no more than $700. Or if you need remote control, the Emotiva A-300 + PT-100 for the exact same price. I considered those options too. However, I personally would want something more in line with the quality that a full Schiit 2 channel system offers and I would be willing to wait either in part or in whole to get that when it is in budget.