The All Purpose Advice Thread - Part 2

That's running into a lot of plugs

 

Ok, but in this case running an extension cord or power bar isn't going to hurt since dacs are such low power devices.

Or get a bunch of Schiit Modis with a usb charging hub and call it a day. Something like this or similar (first result on Amazon)
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B00P936188/

 

Turns out, the most cost effective thing(s) is to get a pair of XLR snake Ethercon boxes with a super thin shielded Ethernet cable.

Much as I wanted an excuse to run Dante all through the house : pout :

 

waitwait... so you didn't actually need the dacs and just needed a compact wiring solution?

 

For domestic tranquility, I'm using a wireless solution from Russound where the receivers have Toslink output as well as analog RCA. These go into the amps feeding my surrounds and backs.

If I can achieve domestic tranquility with an invisible wired solution then I'm good. We'll see if domestic tranquility is perturbed.

 

Posted this in my profile, but should really have been here.
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?profile-posts/33081/

Is Rekkr enough for these speakers? I only need "reasonably loud" (not high performance) to watch TV @ 2.5m distance.
https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-us/product/home-theater/m-1

I guess Gjallarhorn is a safer bet power wise. But Rekkr FAQ says, "Heck, one of our guys uses Rekkr with KEF LS50s", also 85dB/2.83V/m. I assume 1 unit, not monoblocks.

I'm trying to keep cost (and shipping) to a minimum for WAF (Rekkr 1 lbs, Gjallarhorn 8 lbs).

 

I'll elucidate a little on what I mentioned in the profile post. With those sensitivity specs and assuming the min impedance is closer to showing what you're probably seeing as "real world" numbers for the M-1, you're probably at 85dB @ 2w/1m, so more likely 82db @ 1w/1m, and therefore, roughly 76-ish-dB @ 1w/2.5m. Considering you'd generally want 3-6dB of headroom in the amp output, that's gonna tap out the Rekr for normal 65-70dB listening levels. I'd go Gjallarhorn, but even that might be a little too little, IMHO.

 

I have a pair of those, currently in storage. They were very hungry from what I recall.

I could, maybe, break them out and try them with some weeny class D amps I have (Nobsound, 20W?) and/or a Parasound Zamp (80W?) and give you some impressions.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I've ordered a cheap 20W/ch Tripath amp locally to tide me through until I decide on a more permanent solution.

 

@artur9

If you go used you can find Tripath based amps that are a bit more powerful. I had a Virtue Audio with optional beefier power supply that did an easy 40 WPC into 8 ohms. And the Bel Canto 4 channel power amp I had did 400 WPC when bridged into stereo. Those are much harder to find and lots more $$ for one in good working order.

 

I have been looking for a non-usb way of getting all desktop audio from my PC to my modi multibit. I had a Mercury V2, but I found myself switching between devices too often.

I was thinking about trying Dante aoip, but I’m not sure how the virtual sound card works. Does it have the ability to route all sound over IP? I do know the caveat of having to manually select sampling rate, but I don’t think that would be an issue.

 

There are DIY modules with the TA2022 available ...

https://connexelectronic.com/product/ta2022-audio-amplifier/
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/ampl...lifier-module-tripath-2x90w-4-ohm-p-4604.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005004993765588.html

PS. I have no idea what I'm talking about. Just parroting what @dBel84 told me and googlesearched.

 

This is tempting me to pull the tiny little class T amps I bought nearly 20 years ago out of storage to compare against the S.E.X. amp I use at my desk with passive monitors.

 

May be worth the trouble to try at least.

Some are not bad, I had a Breeze amp for a few years that worked pretty well on the TV. I also had one of the first Chinese T-Amps - Trends way back.

The Breeze was decent but was not as good as the Dayton APA 50 that eventually made it to the TV setup. The recent Lepai (5 + yrs old) that I used did not have a Tripath chip and sounded like garbage and similar to the equally garbage cheap Fosi I also tried.

 

glad to see that Tripath still sees some love. my first experience was building a 20W TA2020 based amp from 41Hz (called amp6) - it is still running today and serves my daughter daily in her student apartment. Unlike @bixby, I managed to find a real lepai tripath and used it to build a portable speaker with my son ( which used the lead acid battery from his electric car when he was in elementary school - built when he was 16 ). He uses an amp we built using a pair of TA2022 ( bridged to give enough power for his retuned vintage speakers ( 15" woofers etc ) ) . I bought out a stash of TA2022 chips many moons ago and have 18 waiting for inspiration.

Finally I got to hear @bixby 's bel canto when I fixed it for spwath

perhaps we need a small run of sbaf TA2022 amps ..dB

 

My friend is asking for a rec. He wants to use his (Audio Technica ATH-R70X- 470 ohms) over the ear headphones with his iphone, running Roon or Tidal while on the road or perhaps at work. He was thinking about something strong enough to do the AT's some justice power wise.

I was going to suggest the Creative SXFI dac amp but that only works on Android now. He asked about AQ dragonflys, but I let him know the OG Black and Red I owed were disappointing compared to the Creative.

Let me know what works well and I will shoot the ideas over to him. I saw Fiio has a Q11 which is not expensive, but not sure if it works with an iphone. Maybe an iFi piece?

 

Thanks a ton, your advice was invaluable.

I ended up going with a used Lab Gruppen C20:8X. Having 8 channels of 250W in one unit was attractive to me, as well as the other features. Using it to power the 2 aforementioned Velodyne SC-8, the bookshelves those are paired with (CA Minx 21) and the backs (CA Minx 11). The CA are rated at max 200W so the C20:8X is a good match.

Using 4 channels unbridged, 4 bridged to make 2 channels at 500W. Those 500W are within spitting distance of the 625W/ch the Velodyne amp supposedly puts out. The SC-8s definitely sound more awake, purring almost. I'll have to see what Anthem ARC says.

The fans don't seem so bad. The Phoenix connectors are annoying. It fits well in the space I have for it.

Thank again!

 

Currently have a Beyerdynamic DT1990 and Schiit magni 3+ amp. Looking for a closed alternative. Any thoughts? My wife is WFM and is so loud. I have Sony WH-1000XM4 NC headphones, but their quality is terrible using Windows 10 for whatever reason.

 

I have the Eta Mini C paired with a Piety that I really like the sound of. My other rig has a DT770 and an Asgard. The Mini C/Piety sounds more liquid, syrupy, less neutral than the Asgard but in a really super enjoyable, not cloying, way.