Hi,
After several months of meticulously navigating the world of online hifi, I've come up with the following system:
With furniture: $4549 ($3949)
+ tax/shipping
My main guiding criteria was to avoid any brands that gutted their local production (and jobs) and moved production to cheaper overseas facilities. Not sure if Hypex fits this, but steered away from brands like Polk, JBL, etc. I also prefer western owned companies, and western production where labor laws and environmental practices have to follow higher standards.
Some close contenders are Schitt Aegir, Bottlehead DIY preamp, JDS El Dac II+, Topping Pre90
I mainly considered the Topping Pre90 for it's ability to set a volume ceiling. I have kids and if they get to twist a knob they will twist a knob. The Bottlehead was appealing because I can also use a pointed volume knob and then set a screw where I want to cap the volume. Plus I still want to explore the tube sound and would enjoy a little DIY action. Still not sure how to keep that kids from the Freya S. I was thinking to lock it in the cabinet and then hack the IR remote sensor (desolder/solder and new longer wire that peeks out of the media cabinet).
One thought was to skip the preamp and just use digital volume control via Volumnio. I will have my TV optical line into the DAC then the Pi into the DAC via USB. I would just use the DAC as a digital preamp of sorts (sans physical volume control).
Other constraining factors, WAF rules out standmounts, so only floor standers. Otherwise I would was narrowing in on the Focal 906.
I would love and appreciate any feedback or comments about this set-up (sans any petty arguments like "what's wrong with Chinese stuff, your toilet seat comes from China and you still poop on it.")
Thanks for taking the time to read.
- Alex
After several months of meticulously navigating the world of online hifi, I've come up with the following system:
- Paradigm700F floorstanders - $1700
- Hypex UCD180 - 180W kit from Madisound - $549
- Schitt Modius DAC - $200
- Raspberry Pi with Volumnio and Roon - ~$70
- Schitt Freya S pre-amp - $600
- Set up on a 57 North Plank 42" walnut media console - $1130
- Mostly solid walnut with some veneer
- Cabinet for locking up mostly power supply / surge protector, but also open shelving to keep gear like the amp cool
- Cables from Straight Wire via Schitt - ~$100
- Speaker cables from (not sure yet) ~$100-200
With furniture: $4549 ($3949)
+ tax/shipping
My main guiding criteria was to avoid any brands that gutted their local production (and jobs) and moved production to cheaper overseas facilities. Not sure if Hypex fits this, but steered away from brands like Polk, JBL, etc. I also prefer western owned companies, and western production where labor laws and environmental practices have to follow higher standards.
Some close contenders are Schitt Aegir, Bottlehead DIY preamp, JDS El Dac II+, Topping Pre90
I mainly considered the Topping Pre90 for it's ability to set a volume ceiling. I have kids and if they get to twist a knob they will twist a knob. The Bottlehead was appealing because I can also use a pointed volume knob and then set a screw where I want to cap the volume. Plus I still want to explore the tube sound and would enjoy a little DIY action. Still not sure how to keep that kids from the Freya S. I was thinking to lock it in the cabinet and then hack the IR remote sensor (desolder/solder and new longer wire that peeks out of the media cabinet).
One thought was to skip the preamp and just use digital volume control via Volumnio. I will have my TV optical line into the DAC then the Pi into the DAC via USB. I would just use the DAC as a digital preamp of sorts (sans physical volume control).
Other constraining factors, WAF rules out standmounts, so only floor standers. Otherwise I would was narrowing in on the Focal 906.
I would love and appreciate any feedback or comments about this set-up (sans any petty arguments like "what's wrong with Chinese stuff, your toilet seat comes from China and you still poop on it.")
Thanks for taking the time to read.
- Alex