I have a Bel Canto DAC3 which sounds much better driving the power amp directly than thru the preamplifier (a vintage Adcom)

Can anyone suggest a decent preamplifier with a true bypass, and hopefully a phono stage as well? I looked at the Parasound 2100, but the reviews seem underwhelming regarding sound quality.

Older used gear is ok. Thanks

Since I didn't get any apperent replies on my first thread; nevermind a view, I'll put this simply. I'm using my first gen X-box 360 for music storage. I like it because I find it very convient to load a c.d. and play whatever I wish from my library. However I want something of better quality. Is there something out there that won't cost me an arm and a leg and will do the same thing while maintaining the quality audio from my c.d.'s and considerably outperform the reliability; or lack there of, from the X-box 360.

I'm looking to upgrade my audio system with a new AV receiver. I was looking to spend under $500, but I'd be willing to go over $500 if it really makes a big difference. My current audio system looks like this...

Samsung BD-C6500 Blu Ray Player
(connected via toslink optical)
Music Fidelity V-DAC
Sony STR-DE425 A/V Receiver
Definitive StudioMonitor 450 stereo speakers

I also connect my ipod to the receiver via a Cables To Go 4-Foot RCA Stereo to Dock Connector Cable.

Bryston BDP-1 is an all-in-one "digital audio player" (DAP). Not sure why Bryston pushes it to be used with their outboard DACs. Given the "rave" reviews other Bryston digital products have rec'd on this and other sites/rags, the subjective and (especially) mertics should be interesting.
Currently, I'm using a semi-portable QLS-350 -- a $200 Chinese WAV-only DAP. I also use the iPhone-like $140 Teclast TL-51 (also from China), which does FLAC, WAV, MP3. (Yeah, it sounds way better than any iPod or Cowon).

Well...no one has said that this forum *isn't for New Age music, so I'll post my question here:

I'm putting together a sampler CD that, imho, is an 'audiophile showcase' of New Age goodies. IOW, I'm interested in tracks that both sound good AND show off the equipment....

I realize that this is an extremely subjective area, especially as so much of New Age music is generated electronically as opposed to acoustically.

Even so, here are a few that I have slated so far:

Ray Lynch: The Oh of Pleasure
Peter Davison: Turn to dust
Ginkgo Garden: Song from the treetop

I already have a HDTV with HDMI and a Denon avr2310ci 7.1 receiver.

All i'm looking for is an entry-level budget Home theater speaker system. It is a small room, and I want to focus on quality over loudness.

My budget is around 800 dollars. What would you recommend. Size is a factor, and I would like the smallest possible speakers.

I looked at the ORBS. are they any good?

Thanks.

Hello all...
I'm new to these forums.

Would this be the forum for discussion of New Age music, or would that topic be more at home in the Jazz forum?

TM

I have a new Squeezebox Touch that I am feeding into a Levinson 390S, using the coaxial input to access the DAC. The Touch sounds good playing internet radio, streaming with iTunes and WAV files off a USB drive.
However, I have not been able to play any 24/96 files from a USB drive [the front panel on the 390S shows no input]. I have tried 24/96 WAV and FLAC files.

I burned a 24/96 file WAV file onto a CD and played it on the 390S- it sounded terible- very thin and small soundstage.