Hi, welcome!

I'll try some partial answers/opinions/advice...

Hi, I am new to Hi-Fi home stereo although I know a little about headphone hi-fi. I was recently about to blow all my money on a pair of Grado RS-1's, a Ray Samuel's Emmeline 2 The Raptor amp, a Lavry Black DA10 D/A converter, and a yet to be chosen SACD player.

However I decided to buy a small stereo instead and this being a area I am unexperienced in a have run into problems. I decided to buy a pair of B&W book shelf speakers or used martin logans or anything in the thousand dollar price range.

Be absolutely sure to check out the Monitor Audio speakers mentioned in another thread in this forum and reviewed in the March Stereophile. From the sound of the opinions, this may be the top of the heap and within your budget!

I know im going to bi-amp

No need to biamp the Monitor Audios and you can sink the money into a better two channel amp!

and probably buy a Dared SL-2000A preamp. So in my mind i see my setup like this...

SACD player >> DAC converter >> preamp >> amp(x2) >> speakers

1. my question is... Do i need the DAC? will it provide better sound? my belief is 'yes' it will provide better sound by using the digital out on the SACD player and bypassing the built in DAC of whatever SACD player I buy.

With the quality of the new SACD players, I'd say to give it a go with just the player and not bother with a DAC. There are some really fine stand alone players now. For grins, start out at APL Hi Fi at www.aplhifi.com and see if their gear fits your budget. I've heard all their players and they are beyond superb.

The new Marantz DV9600 is nice, too - no DAC required.

2. Is the preamp even necessary if im running a DAC inbetween my amps and source?

Many source devices just don't drive an amp directly with much conviction. You could try it and add a preamp later, but I'm in the "active pre-amp is good" camp.

3. I have no idea what kind of amps to buy but I like tubes. Any recommendations? (looking to spend a thousand here too, I saw a pair of sound valve m40's on audiogon in this price range).

Tough one. There are better experts here. Jim Tavegia has keen knowledge in this regard, I bet he will stop by.

4. Is a monoblock amp for bass?

Monoblock just means "one channel." No woofer/tweeter specificity implied by the name.

5. Is the Dared SL-2000A a good product?

No experience.

Thanks in advance for having read this far and for any good info you might provide me with

-Ali

Best wishes! Spend a little time reading some of the pre-existing threads, as well. They can be of great help!

Buddha is right on. What getting very nice is now with the B&W 603s and the Monitors you have two great choices at $1K for a very good full range experience. I would also throw in the Triangle (tree-un-gul) your welcome ST, Heliade at about the same price point. Buy it all from the TREEUNGUL (lol) dealer and maybe it all comes out in the wash.

Tube wise I think www.jolida.com is priced right and sounds great. But you also have affordable tube gear from Audio Electronics Supply and the Prima Luna tube gear which looks very nice and I need to find a place to audition them. I like the breadth of integrateds and mono blocks at affordable price points. Their ads are in Stereophile. Enjoy. Just break out the plastic and the world will be delivered to your door step.

The fun is that the Jolida JD 202/40 watt/ch EL34 integrated is about $750 and affordable for just about anyone who wants to dabble in tube. It makes a great spare system piece you will find yourself listening to more and more. Check Underwood Hi Fi