What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[jlaurson]

I prefer my audio equipment to be strictly Wahabi.

[Fëanor]

I prefer my audio equipment to be strictly Wahabi.

   

[Coopmv]

If you're looking for an inexpensive DAC for your computer system, I can recommend the Schiit Audio MODI, US$99; (yeah, cute name; no affiliation). See HERE.




It has remarkably good sound for that buck: very "musical" as some audiophiles express it.  That is, a smooth yet still detailed and spacious sound. The obvious major limitation is USB input only.

I have owned a number of cheap DACs, most from eBay sources. A notable one was the SMSL SD-1955, (e.g. HERE); a crisp, detailed sound but high frequencies are a bit too aggressive.

...

But, N.B., I was so impressed by the Schiit sound  that I decided to step up the their Bifrost model, US$349 -- it hasn't arrived yet, but update when I've listened for a while. This model has S/PDIF inputs with optional USB, (which I ordered).

I live love it - made in USA ...

[Daverz]

http://www.youtube.com/v/l1dnqKGuezo

[Todd]

I've never owned a subwoofer before, but I figured it was time to get one.  I read up on quite a few, and ended up settling on the SVS SB13 Ultra.  Right size, nice price for the features, and decent enough looking for a big black cube.  This will be set up in my "home theater" (ie, soon to be 2.1 system in the family room), but I have a sneaking suspicion an organ recording or five may end up being run through this bad boy.

[Fëanor]

...
But, N.B., I was so impressed by the Schiit sound  that I decided to step up the their Bifrost model, US$349 -- it hasn't arrived yet, but update when I've listened for a while. This model has S/PDIF inputs with optional USB, (which I ordered).

My Schiit Bifrost DAC arrive and has been in service now for a week. It's great: best improvement I've made in my system is a long time.

The thing has far exceeded my expectations, (for that sort of money). Resolution & transparency are outstanding -- instruments & voice are palpable, like real performers in a real space. Even more unexpected is the microdynamics, what we audiophiles often call "PRaT", i.e. pace, rhythm, and timing being an analogy to the performance characteristics: percussion instruments, including piano, are a revelation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I find the optional USB interface, (which I got), to be superior to the S/PDIF, but that might only be particular to my computer, etc..

[Coopmv]

My Schiit Bifrost DAC arrive and had been in service now for a week. It's great: best improvement I've made in my system is a long time.

The thing has far exceeded my expectations, (for the kind of money that it is). Resolution & transparency are outstanding -- instruments & voice are palpable, like real performers in a real space. Even more unexpected is the microdynamics, what we audiophiles often call "PRaT", i.e. pace, rhythm, and timing being an analogy to the performance characteristics: percussion instruments, including piano, are a revelation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I find the optional USB interface which I got to be superior to the S/PDIF, but that might only be particular to my computer, etc..

If I read the label on the back panel correctly, the unit was also made in the US ...

[Todd]

If I read the label on the back panel correctly, the unit was also made in the US ...

Yep, Schiit is American made, and affordable.  (Of course, some/many/most/all [?] of the internal components are not American made.)  I've had the Asgard headphone amp for a couple years, and it is very fine, indeed, though I prefer my Woo Audio, which is also American made - in New York City of all places.

[Coopmv]

Yep, Schiit is American made, and affordable.  (Of course, some/many/most/all [?] of the internal components are not American made.)  I've had the Asgard headphone amp for a couple years, and it is very fine, indeed, though I prefer my Woo Audio, which is also American made - in New York City of all places.

I think Grado and Ohm are both located in Brooklyn, NY since their founding ...

[Kontrapunctus]

Schiit...Asgard...sounds like an anal fixation to me! 

[Coopmv]

Schiit...Asgard...sounds like an anal fixation to me! 

I have heard of the brand but this is the first time I actually 'know' someone who has the DAC ...

If you have a CD transport or a quality CDP, a DAC may be the most economic way to upgrade the sound ...

[Geo Dude]

At this point the only listening systems I have available are an iPod, a laptop, and my main 'system', a $60 boombox I've had for about ten years.

If anyone has any tips--and keep in mind that I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this stuff--I'd love to find something entry level to replace the boombox with.  A good 'musical' sound is nice, but at this point I'm fine with any reasonably small system that doesn't turn into a distorted mess any time a piano or brass instrument is involved.

[Parsifal]

At this point the only listening systems I have available are an iPod, a laptop, and my main 'system', a $60 boombox I've had for about ten years.

If anyone has any tips--and keep in mind that I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this stuff--I'd love to find something entry level to replace the boombox with.  A good 'musical' sound is nice, but at this point I'm fine with any reasonably small system that doesn't turn into a distorted mess any time a piano or brass instrument is involved.

I'd suggest enhancing your iPod and laptop with a modest headphone amp, and a nice pair of over-ear headphones.

For the amp, one possibility is

http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-total-bithead.php

which would work with iPod or computer.  www.headphone.com also has lots of information about headphones.

[Geo Dude]

I've looked into that in the past but right now I'm interested in a system with speakers that I can run independent of the laptop.  That said, thanks for the link, I'll bookmark it for future reference when I'm looking to upgrade my headphone listening.

[Geo Dude]

I've bookmarked that for future reference, thanks.  Right now I'm looking for an independent set up to replace the boombox, though.

[Parsifal]

The answer is going to depend on what you are willing to spend.  I get the impression you don't want to spend a lot.  For me the minimum system for listening to classical would be a basic CD player ($150) a stereo amplifier or receiver ($200) and a pair of bookshelf speakers ($300).  Anything less, and I'd restrict myself to headphones, which would give good sound quality for a lot less money.  You can also use a DVD player to play CDs.

I'd also suggest starting your investigation with a site like crutchfield.com, which vets what they carry to meet some reasonable standard of quality.  (There is a lot of consumer grade stuff which is designed to look good, not sound good.)

If you gave me 60 seconds to pick a bare-bones system from crutchfield, I'd pick
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TX8255/Onkyo-TX-8255.html
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580C7030/Onkyo-C-7030.html
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065A25B/Boston-Acoustics-A-25.html

[Fëanor]

The answer is going to depend on what you are willing to spend.  I get the impression you don't want to spend a lot.  For me the minimum system for listening to classical would be a basic CD player ($150) a stereo amplifier or receiver ($200) and a pair of bookshelf speakers ($300).  Anything less, and I'd restrict myself to headphones, which would give good sound quality for a lot less money.  You can also use a DVD player to play CDs.

I'd also suggest starting your investigation with a site like crutchfield.com, which vets what they carry to meet some reasonable standard of quality.  (There is a lot of consumer grade stuff which is designed to look good, not sound good.)

If you gave me 60 seconds to pick a bare-bones system from crutchfield, I'd pick
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TX8255/Onkyo-TX-8255.html
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580C7030/Onkyo-C-7030.html
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065A25B/Boston-Acoustics-A-25.html

This is sound advice for a basic system and would be distinct step up from a "boombox".  I must mention, though, that small speakers of this sort don't have the bass frequencies extension to cover the whole instrument range since their low frequency cut-off is too high. In the A25 case, 55 Hz.   It's much better to have system that will go down to 40 Hz which will cover most instruments.

A reasonable approach is too buy a basic system like the above (more or less) and later add a powered subwoofer. A basic subwoofer might be $250+. In the case of the Onkyo TX-8255 I caution that it doesn't have a Subwoofer or stereo pair of "line level" connections to drive a subwoofer -- granted this is a very basic receiver.  Some subwoofers permit a "high level", i.e. main speaker-type connection but the results are likely to be inferior to a line level connections.

Another highly reputable US-based online vendor is Audio Advisor.

The following would be a pricier but significant upgrade over the system above. I added a subwoofer as the last item:

PSB Image B5 Bookshelf Speakers
Cambridge Audio Topaz SR10 Receiver
Cambridge Audio Topaz CD10 CD Player
PSB Sub Series 125 Subwoofer

[Geo Dude]

Parsifal, thank you for the help.  If that's the sort of starting cost I'm looking at I'm perfectly willing to save up and pay it.  I'll take a look around crutchfield and take any other advice I can get.

[Parsifal]

Parsifal, thank you for the help.  If that's the sort of starting cost I'm looking at I'm perfectly willing to save up and pay it.  I'll take a look around crutchfield and take any other advice I can get.

Glad to be of help.  I should point out that I don't specifically endorse those particular products, but that would be the general configuration and price range for a basic system. 

I agree with the suggestion above that a sub-woofer might be a subsequent addition.  You can add a subwoofer even if there is no dedicated subwoofer output on the amplifier.  I use a subwoofer (Polk audio) with some larger bookshelf speakers, and the speaker signal is passed through the subwoofer, which detects and amplifies the bass portion of the signal.

[Geo Dude]

Understood.  Thank you Feanor, too.  In any case, I have a subwoofer lying around (long story, I unfortunately do not know what model/brand it is, though) that will probably be of use when I can get the other parts together.