Diving deeper into high end audio… I have a nice AV surround setup for movies. Onkyo TXNR818 driving 5.1 JBL Studio speakers. I really want to improve the quality of my stereo listening (which I now do more than movies). I had been planning on building a second, stereo only system. I still may. But reading everywhere has led me to HT Bypass as a concept to utilize much of my current setup and space. But I need a head check to make sure I understand it all.
The Onkyo has pre-outs for all 7.1 channels. These are RCA plugs. If I understand correctly, I can use dedicated *stereo* integrated amp with pre-in and home theater bypass functionality, correct?
So here’s what I’m thinking…
Same Onkyo/JBL setup for movies/tv/games, but replacing the left and right fronts with better speakers.
I’m leaning toward and trying out B&W 683s and GoldenEar Triton 5s (or similar). I’m thinking around $2K-$2500 for speakers.
I route the pre-outs for left front, right front, and sub from the Onkyo to a separate stereo integrated amp. For this I’m leaning toward the Parasound Halo Integrated or the Cambridge Audio 851A. Not sure the 851A has bypass, but it seems like it. Can anyone confirm? Are there other amps I should consider? I like the sound of the Class A, A/B of these two…
I’ll be using a Mac Mini dedicated to music usb’d right to the system, probably with Audirvana.
I am considering a separate DAC. I like the Schiit Yggdrasil or maybe the Mytek Stereo192-DSD. First, would those be an improvement over the built in DACs in the aforementioned (or similar) integrated amps, or overkill?
Thoughts on a Mac Mini -> Schiit/Mytek DAC -> Parasound/Cambridge Audio amp [looped with Onkyo 818 for video] -> B&W/GoldenEar?
Am I close to respectable, missing something, overshooting, or overlooking alternatives?
Thanks for any advice…
Diving deeper into high end audio… I have a nice AV surround setup for movies. Onkyo TXNR818 driving 5.1 JBL Studio speakers. I really want to improve the quality of my stereo listening (which I now do more than movies). I had been planning on building a second, stereo only system. I still may. But reading everywhere has led me to HT Bypass as a concept to utilize much of my current setup and space. But I need a head check to make sure I understand it all.
The Onkyo has pre-outs for all 7.1 channels. These are RCA plugs. If I understand correctly, I can use dedicated *stereo* integrated amp with pre-in and home theater bypass functionality, correct?
So here’s what I’m thinking…
Same Onkyo/JBL setup for movies/tv/games, but replacing the left and right fronts with better speakers.
I’m leaning toward and trying out B&W 683s and GoldenEar Triton 5s (or similar). I’m thinking around $2K-$2500 for speakers.
I route the pre-outs for left front, right front, and sub from the Onkyo to a separate stereo integrated amp. For this I’m leaning toward the Parasound Halo Integrated or the Cambridge Audio 851A. Not sure the 851A has bypass, but it seems like it. Can anyone confirm? Are there other amps I should consider? I like the sound of the Class A, A/B of these two…
I’ll be using a Mac Mini dedicated to music usb’d right to the system, probably with Audirvana.
I am considering a separate DAC. I like the Schiit Yggdrasil or maybe the Mytek Stereo192-DSD. First, would those be an improvement over the built in DACs in the aforementioned (or similar) integrated amps, or overkill?
Thoughts on a Mac Mini -> Schiit/Mytek DAC -> Parasound/Cambridge Audio amp [looped with Onkyo 818 for video] -> B&W/GoldenEar?
Am I close to respectable, missing something, overshooting, or overlooking alternatives?
Thanks for any advice…