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Showing 1 of 17 conversations about:
RyCan
144
Jul 25, 2018
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OK. Here goes. If the receiver has 5.1 surround it will have a built-in DAC. On the back you probably have inputs for S/PDIF and Toslink. Both of those are digital inputs and you can get adapters https://smile.amazon.com/Signstek-Coaxial-Converter-Convert-Analogue/dp/B00FEDHHKE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1532555650&sr=8-3&keywords=usb+to+spdif which will do the trick. So, I had nearly the identical receiver, but mine bit the dust (queue Queen (which sounds fantastic on HE4XX BTW)) 3 years ago. I got an updated version with BT and other bells and whistles. When I got my HD6XX 6 months ago the first thing I did was run my iPod into the Sony receiver and plug the headphones in...aaaaaaand they sounded like crap. Now the headphone amp used in the older version might be better and I'm pretty sure I was using the USB-in and taking "advantage" of the built in DAC. DON'T RECOMMEND. I would encourage you to plug a BT DAC in. This is one that I am going to get and am actually pretty excited about. https://igg.me/at/auris-amplify/x/17498500. It uses an AK4376 DAC chip which has performed admirably for other mobile audio devices, including FiiO. And it is a good price for 3 more days. :) If you would rather go the wired route then something like this should do a great job and be easy to use https://www.jdslabs.com/products/181/ol-dac-b-stock/
Jul 25, 2018
RayF
22213
Jul 26, 2018
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RyCanFirst, thank for getting back to me with the great suggestions--I appreciate it!
So I'd be thrilled to discover I do have the digital inputs you mention, but I'm a bit confused. Here's a shot of the of the 5.1 inputs:
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Are you saying the yellow "Video In"--under the 5.1 jacks is a Toslink and/or S/PDIF?
'Cuz if that's case, I think there's a light at the end of tunnel (so to speak). I like the other options you suggested to, but before I go that way, I do want to know if any of those little yellow jacks actually are Toslink or S/PDIF?
Can you confirm that?
Jul 26, 2018
RyCan
144
Jul 26, 2018
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RayFNope. My bad. Yours must be a couple years older than mine was. Family history lesson. My dad bought his receiver about 6 years before I bought mine. Only stereo was available when he bought his and Dolby Digital was the standard when I bought mine. I tend to forget there were a couple dark years in the late 90s when there was the analogue surround.
Jul 26, 2018
RyCan
144
Jul 26, 2018
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RyCanOn the plus side. You have so many RCA inputs that you should be able to plug as many DACs as you will ever own into the device 🤡
Jul 26, 2018
RayF
22213
Jul 26, 2018
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RyCanNow you're talk'n--I'll find a use for this thing yet!
Jul 26, 2018
amb3cog
90
Jul 26, 2018
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RayFStay away from anything Bluetooth if you want any sort of SQ. If you really want to use it. Get a regular DAC with RCA out, and run that off your computer. Or use a streamer. If you want to use your phone to control it. You could use a Raspberry Pi setup. But I assume you're wanting to go cheap, and simple. So use a Chromecast Audio, and a DAC that takes optical (I think that's what it uses), or SPIDF if that's what it uses (there's plenty of DACs that work with all of these). And then you can control it from your phone. Not Uber SQ, but you can stream basically anything with one of them.
Jul 26, 2018
Mlcousi
328
Jul 26, 2018
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amb3cogThis sounds like a case of audiophoolery.. Anything over BT4.0 sounds just fine, and even the DAC in the chromecast is quite good.. I would say plugging in a recently made BT dongle or even just a chromecast would be just fine..
Jul 26, 2018
amb3cog
90
Jul 26, 2018
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MlcousiJust been my experience is all. Everything I've tried Bluetooth hasn't been very good on my home setup. I did have a nice car stereo where the Bluetooth sounded just about as good as directly hooking my phone up through the headphone jack, into the 1/8 input on my head unit. But at home. I only use a direct connection from my laptop to my Scott Nixon Tube DAC, then into my preamp, for my main system. I'm eventually going to get an Allo USBridge streamer to hook to my DAC. And there's no way any Bluetooth Chromecast unit will sound as good as a real DAC. It's like night, and day difference. Even hooking my Chromecast up via the SPIDF connection to my DAC sounded horrible. My TV too. Same thing. Horrible.
You can choose to believe, or not believe whatever you want. But until you've owned nice systems, and actually tried all of this stuff, like I have. This is just your opinion. I'm coming from a place of experience, not repeating what I've seen on the internet, or what I think works/doesn't work. I've read so much conflicting opinions on the internet, it's crazy. So I chose to buy, and try as much at I possibly can. I own over a dozen pairs of speakers, over a dozen amps/integrated amps/receivers, 4 DACs, 3 or 4 preamps, an EQ, a TT, a Compact Disk changer, and a cassette player. I also own a few pairs of quality interconnects (Blue Jean/Mogami Neglex, etc), and some bulk speaker/power cable from Jenving (Supra brand from Sweden).
I've learned that all the people who claim audiophoolery, and that rely only on measurements all have one thing in common. They talk about things based on their opinions, their feelings, or from what they've seen in the internet. Most have very little, if any real experience with different gear. They say stuff like "My Onkyo I bought in 1978 still works great, and there's no need of any more then that, as it's satisfied me all these years". And that's great, except he's just proving that he hasn't listened to anything, but that one piece for all these years. He's got no real experience. And then they'll go on, and talk like they do have experience.
In my experience things definitely do sound different, and you do get better sound with better equipment. It's just that simple. I've managed to put together an amazing system for under $1000 buying used equipment. It's all carefully thought out though. And the retail price is over $4000 if it were bought new. Having done this, and learned that the naysayers were wrong. And that you do get what you pay for when buying quality audio gear. I'm now going to spend real money, and get something epic. I've heard a great system years ago that blew me away, and I'm looking to get to that level someday soon.
Having said all that. I'm also willing to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and send Ray my Geek Out 450 DAC/headphone amp to compare to a Chromecast if he wants (he'll have to buy the Chromecast obviously). It was about $200 new. I bought it for $60 shipped from a fellow member on AudioKarma. That way he can make his own decision between Bluetooth, and a directly connected DAC. And he can send it back when he's done, or I'll sell it to him cheaply. If he wants to keep it. I'll even pay shipping to him, and I'll send along a nice Radio Shack 1/8in to stereo RCA cord/adapter. So he can hook it up to his receiver. And he can use it just as is for headphones. It's got a Class A headphone amp built in that sounds great.
Just let me know if you want to try it #RayF , and I'll send it your way soon as I have some time. Probably next week, mid week sometime.
Jul 26, 2018
Mlcousi
328
Jul 26, 2018
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amb3cogI use this setup in my room, a cheap smsl ad18 and a pair of KEF Q100's and I only use it as a Bluetooth receiver and amp.. using tidal from either my PC or phone over Bluetooth sounds no different to me than going straight through a decent dac into my decent headphones..
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Jul 26, 2018
RayF
22213
Jul 27, 2018
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amb3cogThat my friend, is a very kind and generous offer! I get your concerns about Bluetooth and streaming with the Chromecast (although in my world that would equate to AppleTV, no?). I have the space to set up a wired connection using a an inexpensive DAC as the go between. If that works out, I can upgrade to something better--because I'm with you on the you-get-what-you-pay-for thing. I'm willing to throw more money at the system once I'm sure the Sony is a keeper.
BTW, what floorstanding speakers would you recommend?
Jul 27, 2018
RayF
22213
Jul 27, 2018
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MlcousiI wan't one of those damn things because I think they're the coolest--if the Sony doesn't pan out, that's my next purchase.
Jul 27, 2018
Mlcousi
328
Jul 27, 2018
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RayFIt kind of took me by surprise, it's tiny and it has power for anything.. I'm still gonna add a sub to it at some point.. but even without a sub the kefs have decent low end, and that's without using any of the built in eq's.. I will also be adding a phono pre amp to it for my back up turntable.. Ray, you know more than me about this shit..
Jul 27, 2018
Mlcousi
328
Jul 27, 2018
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RayFI'm just winging this shit, throwing money at this and that till I find a good match..
Jul 27, 2018
RayF
22213
Jul 27, 2018
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MlcousiI don't know about knowing any more than the shit I know--whatever that is?! But I do know that Zeos over on Z Reviews couldn't say enough good things about your AD 18--he pretty much said it was the Swiss Army Knife of reasonably priced DAC/Amps and he had no problem with the Bluetooth feature. Sounds like your's has no problem driving you KEFs either ;- ) What's not to like?
Jul 27, 2018
RayF
22213
Jul 27, 2018
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MlcousiWell, ain't we all?!
Jul 27, 2018
Mlcousi
328
Jul 27, 2018
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RayFI am a habitual zreviews watcher as well.. I will be using more of it as time goes so hopefully it keeps surprising me..
Jul 27, 2018
Mlcousi
328
Jul 27, 2018
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RayFVolume goes up to 60 and 30 is LOUD..
Jul 27, 2018
amb3cog
90
Jul 27, 2018
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RayFI honestly don't know anything about Apple TV unfortunately. I stick with the traditional stuff basically, and I don't do Apple in general. I'm an Android/Windows guy.
As for the speakers. I'm not sure what's really or there. I've only recently been looking at new speakers, for the future. I've got a garage full, but they're all old ones I bought used. I did almost buy some Polk Audio T50's because they were recommended by one of my favorite reviewers (Zero Fidelity on YouTube), and they're cheap. But I don't really have the room, and my next set will probably be much more serious high end type ones.
You really should let everyone know what you listen to. The room size. How loud you'll listen. And what type of sound you prefer. Warm, and musical, or bright and detailed. Or totally neutral (expensive, and hard to get though).
I see you have a $1000 budget. I don't think you'll have to spend that much myself, but if you did. You'll probably want something better then that Sony to do them justice. I would just get the Polks though probably, if I were you. They're on sale for $100 a piece right now, and are very good supposedly for the money. They'll work fine with that receiver too. Keep it cheap for now, and make sure you'll really use it enough to warrant spending lots of money.
And I was serious about the DAC. It's not being used at all, and sounds pretty good. It's also just a tiny little thing. Looks like an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC. Just plugs into a USB port with no cable, and is powered by the port itself. It's about the size of two matchboxes. If you borrow that, and get those speakers. You'll be in business cheap. And if you buy them new. You'll have a return window. In case you don't like them. Really no risk that way. The Pioneer Andrew Jones speaker (SP-FS52) is another possibility. But I think the bass is lower on the Polks, and they're more musical. Some people prefer them though. And if you wanted to spend more. People love the Elac speakers that Andrew Jones makes. The Debut series, or the pricier Uni-fi series both get rave reviews. The start at $250 for bookshelf, and go to $1000 for Uni-Fi towers. And Dali speakers get a lot of love too. Really though. We'll need more info to give proper advice. This will get you started down the path towards what's out there though. Here's some videos about the Polks, and one that talks about the Pioneer ones too.

Jul 27, 2018
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