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December 1, 2007 - 9:45am
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Fun!
What sound characteristics are most important to you? This will help people give you some ideas with speakers. For example, do you want to be able to fill this space with loud music, or is harmonic texture and subtlety more important?
I would start with the Benchmark DAC1 or the PS Audio DAC. Both sound great, although I think the PS Audio is better - but the Benchmark has a headphone amp built in also.
I hate to plug the competition on Sterophile's forum but look at this month's TAS (The Absolute Sound). They have a feature on music servers and a DIY on using your computer as such. Check Stereophile's archives through their search engine to find what they've written on the issue.
My impression is that the OP is set for music server, he just needs ideas for getting the music out.
Starting with the least expensive component I'd recommend, the 0202 Audio Interface from E-MU includes a 2-channel DAC with dynamic range of 111 dB on their line outs. The DACs support sample rates up to 192 kHz and word lengths of up to 24 bits. The specified jitter is <100 ps! And, get this, the suggested retail price is $129.99! I've used this box in audio testing and it sounds much better than the sound card in the PC I was using. A few gotchas are that it requires USB 2.0 for the hi-rez formats and the software (driver) requires Windows XP.
For an amp, the icePower-based amplifiers from various vendors would be a good bet. PS Audio has one, the Trio A-100 for $995.
Now that we're up to a bit over $1000, the remainer is available for speakers; the most important components. With just a little stretch to your budget, the Gallo Acoustics Nucleus Reference 3.1's are the best $3000 speakers I've heard and could do a good job of filling your large space.
Let us know your final choices and how it all goes together. Happy listening!
Great ideas, CharlyD.
By saving money on the DAC now, he could get the Trio (which is a wonderful amp) and very good speakers. Later on he could upgrade the DAC and add the bass amp to the speakers when he is interested in upgrading.
A solid plan.
I really know diddly about music servers but figured there's always more information to learn in those articles.
Thanks for this excellent question. Not being versed in audiophile terminology, it's hard to answer. I listen to everything: classical, jazz blues, world music, (rap is least favorite).
Filling the space is very important, but seems to be no problem - it's a loft with only a few dividing walls and no matter where I put the speakers they will be heard throughout the space. However, it will be hard to create a "sweet spot" for listening.
I like a full base sound but not the deafening stuff too often used to play back hip-hop. High frequencies are also a concern in an space that will probably always sound a bit hard and bright in spite of our best efforts.
A propos of that, I have no idea what "room treatments" are all about. Are these devices that can be used to improve the space's acoustics?
Looking back over what I have written it seems that harmonic texture and subtlety are more important than filling the space with loud music.
One final question. Originally, I thought of placing speakers on the floor, but actually it might be easier to place them favorably on the 18 ft walls or suspending them from beams or pipes. Could this work to produce good sound?
Special thanks also for the suggestions in the other replies - I'll check them all out carefully.
Thanks for these fine suggestions. Concerning the gotchas on the DAC, I'll be using a new Mac so the USB 2.0 is no problem, but if the software requires Windows XP would I be able to run it under Parallels or Boot Camp?
I think you're in luck. Here's the Mac system requirements from the EMU site:
Macintosh:
Apple
Take a look at HERE JA