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miniDSP with separates or Arcam SA30 or NAD C658 plus beefy power amp?

I'm new to this and would like to incrementally start a separates system initially on top of my Yamaha A2080 AVR with combined music movies system.

My goal is to enter hi-fi territory for 2 channel music and get Dirac into my system.

miniDSP opens up lots of component options but is it too much trouble when I can just get something like the C658 or Arcam SA30 when it comes out this fall?

Right now my system is KEF R3 L/R, Dual Rythmik F12SE's, and a Yamaha A2080 AVR.  Running Tidal Hi-Fi and occasionally some hi-res FLAC from a USB stick.

Thx :-)


128x128ataraxia
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
miniDSP has a lot of great little "swiss army knife" type products to help fix elements in current systems.  However, it's likely going to degrade some sound quality unless you buy a linear power supply for the miniDSP unit.  The switching wal-wart power supplies just aren't good enough.   That being said, it's much better to buy a really good NAD or Arcam that has the room correction included.  That way, you're not sending the audio through another device that will need to do an analog-to-digital conversion, process, and then a digital-to-analog conversion.
ataraxia's avatar
ataraxia OP
38 posts
 
Thanks auxinput. Makes sense. 
erik_squires
15,988 posts
 
miniDSP does not have Dolby or DTS decoding. Sadly.
ataraxia's avatar
ataraxia OP
38 posts
 
erik_squires,

I'm mainly trying to get a Dirac capable 2.0 or 2.2  channel system going. I have thought about just getting a Dirac AVR like Arcam or NAD but I'm really trying to upgrade my 2 channel electronics for a fairly significant future 2 channel speaker upgrade.

In the mean time it seems it would be nice to have an integrated with HT bypass atop my AVR.  Right now it seems NAD C658 with good power amp or Arcam SA30 with their P429 in bridged mode.  However, I don't believe the C658 has HT bypass.

It seems like the Arcam SA30 with the P429 amp would be a great set of electronics for a next step 6-10K speaker upgrade a few years down the road. 

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