2. amps-preamps
  3. 140953-84060

All in one Pre/Power/Streaming/DAC or Streaming Preamp/DAC combo ~$2k-4k recommendations

Howdy!

Looking for recommendations on a user-friendly  pre/power/dac/streamer OR preamp/dac/streamer combo or all in one pre/power/dac/streamer combo.  ~$2-4K is my price range.  These combos are difficult to search the internet for and even more difficult to search Audiogon for (what section do you list them in?). 

Here's what I think are my requirements.  I say, "I think" because I'm open to other options to get me there.
1. Control unit with iphone, ipad
2. Runs Tidal
3. Runs cool-- my equipment is behind doors away from 2 year old hands
4. Fun options- HDMI input, bluetooth, air play, room correction- I have no control over placement options for speakers (wife retains that authority)
5. If recommending all-in-one box with power needs plenty of watts to run ATC speakers, generally >100wpc.

Current system consists of ATC SCM 11 v2 speakers, Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 which runs straight into Wyred for Sound ST-500 mk 2 power amp.  I have a Squeezebox touch from which I stream Tidal.  Also have an apple tv and sony uhp-h1 universal player connected through the DAC.  My stereo is in the main living room connected with the tv that everyone uses.

I"m really looking for functionality upgrade, not necessarily looking to improve on the sound.  I'm pretty pleased with sound quality and I don't know if I could elaborate on what sound quality I would improve upon if you asked.  I want my wife and kids to be able to use it and enjoy it as much as I do.  Think Taylor Swift dance parties (for my daughters), country music for the wife, and jazz/acoustic for me, and tv sound through the stereo all of the rest of the time.   

Right now I have a separate remote for all the devices.  I frequently have 3 remotes in my hand at once.  I use iPeng to control the Squeezebox, but I don't think it's great and doesn't integrate all that well with Tidal. Wife and kids find it more difficult to use.

My wants seem to outweigh my bank account- the eternal audiophile conundrum.

Thanks for your input!


joshelston

Showing 2 responses by mzkmxcv

mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
If you want the latest HDR/HDMI format support:

* Marantz SR6013 for $1500.

Even though it uses AKM 4458’s on all channels, if you wish to use a different DAC for stereo music, get the Bluesound Node 2i for $500 as the streamer. For the DAC, your current one is good, but it’s using the ESS 9018, whereas the 9038 is the current gen, and the Topping D50 is $250 and uses dual 9038’s and measures excellent (jitter reduction better than -125dBFS, >20Bit while maintaining +/-0.1dB of linearity, THD below -105dBFS, IMD below -55dB (-105dB at 0dBFs), etc.).

The Marantz can also be run in bi-amp mode if you wish for more power. The quality of the wattage is also pretty high (0.003% THD from 10W to 90W, better than +/-0.25dB linearity with analog inputs, better than -0.3dB with digital inouts, crosstalk better than -75dBFS at max output, SNR >110dBA, etc.)
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@joshelston  
 
It’s a high end one, and any stereo ones with HDMI aren’t as up to date and won’t have as frequenct/timely updates.  
  
As I was hinting at with all the specs I gave, it is excellent for music as well. There is still a $10,000 amp challenge if you think amps that are level matched and operating below audible distortion with linear amplification sound different.
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