No worries, any 300Bs bass will smoke the one you currently have.Weak 300B bass experience comes from people who want to drive dead speakers with them. (Your is well and truly alive.)However, 300B is definitively not for budget.I can second (third?) the Quicksilvers as best choice.
Dream Speakers = landed. Now I need to feed them!
So I scored a pair of Belle Klipsch (1987 models, AB crossover). I would have gone for Khorns, but the room they were going in just wasn't going to work. RIght now, I'm running a cheap little Sony (STR-DH190) stereo receiver on them, and even that sounds amazing, but I know I've barely scratched the surface of what they're capable of. The dream is a pair of SET monoblocks (probably 300B type), though I'm worried about not being able to drive the bottom enough. I listen to a wide array of music from classical and opera to extreme metal, though my wife is decidedly more of a rock person, so I definitely need something that will push those woofers proper.
Due to lifestyle and logistics, a big piece of my source audio is going to be HQ feeds from my laptop via Bluetooth. I know, not an ideal source, but until I build my HTPC, it's just going to have to work. I also need to run optical out from my Sony Bravia (which I can't do right now because the receiver doesn't have optical in and the TV doesn't have analog out).
Here's the hard part: Right now, I can't really spend more than $1k for the whole shebang. So I started hunting.
At first I was sniffing around looking for a tube preamp that can handle both Bluetooth and Toslink, but all that seems to be out there are suspiciously cheap Chinese integrated amps that have no pre out for later use. I also looked at some dedicated DAC's such as the Cambridge Audio DACMagic, that I knew I could pair with a BT-capable tube pre. But I'm still sketchy about the cheap Chinese kit. I've heard positive things about Dared, though, and I was thinking their 5BT would be a good foundation alongside the aforementioned DAC, because I could use its power stage for right now, and if I can't stay in the right now budget to get a good pair of monoblocks, then I could wait for a while and buy the right ones later.
Thoughts? Opinions? Alternative ideas?
Due to lifestyle and logistics, a big piece of my source audio is going to be HQ feeds from my laptop via Bluetooth. I know, not an ideal source, but until I build my HTPC, it's just going to have to work. I also need to run optical out from my Sony Bravia (which I can't do right now because the receiver doesn't have optical in and the TV doesn't have analog out).
Here's the hard part: Right now, I can't really spend more than $1k for the whole shebang. So I started hunting.
At first I was sniffing around looking for a tube preamp that can handle both Bluetooth and Toslink, but all that seems to be out there are suspiciously cheap Chinese integrated amps that have no pre out for later use. I also looked at some dedicated DAC's such as the Cambridge Audio DACMagic, that I knew I could pair with a BT-capable tube pre. But I'm still sketchy about the cheap Chinese kit. I've heard positive things about Dared, though, and I was thinking their 5BT would be a good foundation alongside the aforementioned DAC, because I could use its power stage for right now, and if I can't stay in the right now budget to get a good pair of monoblocks, then I could wait for a while and buy the right ones later.
Thoughts? Opinions? Alternative ideas?
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- 76 posts total
I'm on an even tighter budget than you - but I power my Belle Klipsch horns (ca. 1984) with an older Antique Sound Labs MG SI 15 DT SET integrated amp rated at 5/15 wpc (triode/pentode) running upgraded tubes. http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-antique-sound-lab-mg-si-15-dt-singleended-class-a-tube-integrated-amplifier I'm not advocating this particular brand or model - just illustrating it doesn't take much juice (or $$) to get decent sound from the 104 dB SP Belles. Like you - I'm dreaming of one day upgrading to the QS monos (or something comparable). My maximum "bang-for-the-buck" system also includes a Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC ($700) and a refurbished Cambridge Audio CXC transport ($400). Whatever you end up going with - plan on adding a decent subwoofer. Terry |
The Klipsch are 104db 1w1m? Not going to recommend a 300WPC amp, unless it’s tube watts. You will still neeed 200wpc for the headroom :) took me just about 4.5 years. Of saving every bill I could save, missed lunches, being mr pink for a while, but in paid offf. Just use what have for now, while you save 2500-3K for a killer amp (s) with those 104 db beasts, I highly recommend a used Sunfire with the tubey taps, or a nice pair off tube blocks to help with the mid and treble of those speakers. If I had those speakers,... honestly, I would enjoy them while I saved for a bada$$ pair of tube monos, That’s just the way I do it. Don’t have the. Funds like many on here, so I had to save a bit every week or month, roll it up, not touch it, hide it from the wife, I had a great place in the basement. Carver 275 tube monos, are nice, only 75 watts, might not give you the headroom you want. I ramble I know. Enjoy the journey! |
At 104db I think this could be very good match, as glennewdick stated, a 20w Class-A Schiit Aegir, it will be smooth and extended right through the mids and highs (horns love class-A) yet still have solid state control in the bass. https://www.schiit.com/products/aegir Cheers George |
- 76 posts total