I’m doing a major upgrade of my desktop’s audio setup from budget to mid-fi, and so I’m hoping for some ideas regarding equipment. To summarize what I have so far, my new (and current) DAC is the Marantz HD-DAC1, and I plan on replacing my current speaker amp (Topping TP-22) and speakers (Infinity Primus P163). Now, I am pretty sure I’m settled on the Wharfedale EVO4.2 bookshelfs, but I need to figure out what I want to do for my amp.
Originally, i was planning on completing the Marantz stack with the HD-AMP1, but after some browsing, I was looking at others options, including either the Schitt Vadir or Aegir, the NAD C 368, or even the Cambridge CXA60. Now, I figured it might make things easier if I asked for recommendations online, so the main requirements I need are the following;
enough power to drive my speakers for a small room; for reference; my current setup is plenty loud for my room when my TP-22 (which is 30W RMS) is at the 10 o’clock position
input through RCA
small enough to fit with my current stack (the Marantz HD-DAC1 is about the square footage that I could deal with well
preferably, something mainly black, though I could deal with it if I had to get a different finish
max budget of $1000 USD, hard limit
If anyone would be glad to give good recommendations along these lines, that would be great.
And as an aside, is there a good source for four-conductor speaker wire?
No, the A-100 is a good size for this. For reference, the HD-DAC1 is about 10" W x 11" D, and I can likely add another inch to the depth.
However, is the Emotiva going to be good enough (less power, more discernment of detail) to complement the Wharfedales? Or were you asking to have a reference?
Cambridge is very bright, not a great match with a ribbon tweeter.
The Rega Brio would be very small and this thing sounds amazing, very warm midrange and musical.
Creek Evolution 50A is a classic. Very nice and clean/neutral, exceptional resolution for the price.
The Leema Acoustics Elements Power Amplifier or Intergated might be something for you but I don’t know how expensive this stuff is in the US.
The IOTAVX SA3 has a very good price/performance. Neutral but not boring or harsh. You can add the PA2 and BiAmp your Speakers… would be a pretty nice and dynamic.
@German_Power@blackjakals Well, the Creek and IOTA both definitely have the wrong form factor, and I have a feeling the Leema is definitely too expensive, so thanks for recommending the Brio.
I should mention, however, that the Wharfedale EVO4’s tweeter is actually AMT. Does that change things?
The Brio is a great and has rock-solid build quality.
A good match for agressive speakers.
The Speakerwires dont realy matter at this budget.
But I would replace the bridges with a DIY jumperkabel from spate to banana and plug the speakerwires into the woofer.
If you want somthing quality at a budget I like the
StraightWire Soundstage (BiWire).
So I’m taking a bit to think everything over, and now that I think about it, should I also look for a subwoofer connection, considering the Wharfedale’s only go down to ~48 dB? Or are we approaching placebo levels of bass? If so, do I want to change course from the Brio, which I’m planning on buying once I get the cash together?
I prefer to connect my subwoofer via the speakercabels an let the speakers do as much as they can and were engineered to do.
I will listen to the Wharfedale’s for you on Sunday at a big HiFi Convention. Maybe I have a better Idea of what to expect from them afterwards.