For the living room, A$R led me to a new
pair of Revel F208s and a
NAD C298 Purifi amp. Audioholic$ convinced me on
2 Monolith 10 inch THX subwoofers. I set up a Logitech Media Server (LMS) streaming system on an
Intel Nuc11i7, which holds my ~1300 ripped CDs. An old
Logitech Touch is connected via Ethernet. I don't have a separate DAC now, so I'm using the Touch analog outs into a
Bryston BP25MC preamp, that is almost out of their 20 year warranty, but still going strong, and built like a tank. The main system NUC uses a cheapie
42 inch Vizio TV for a Windows 11 monitor, and video streaming, with analog outs to the preamp. Cables are old Mogami Gold balanced, Mogami RCAs mostly, cheap RCAs to get subs connected for now, and Blue Jeans 10 gauge Belden speaker cable with locking bananas. Spotify currently streams through the TV analog outs, but I will get that to stream through LMS eventually.
I currently use a corner speaker placement, plenty of distance from walls for the F208s, and the 2 subs are set up opposite from each other, as often recommended, with neither in the corner behind the Revels. The baseline sound with no DRC, or even a modern DAC, is beyond expectations. To think it can sound even better is actually a bit mind-blowing.
Still a lot to do with the main system. Since the NUC is in the living room, I plan to run a USB C out to a DAC/processor of some type, to incorporate DRC. I'll run the main system LMS via the PC display or a tablet/phone app. The video display will be upgraded eventually, with audio to the DAC somehow (Black Friday deals may be too good to avoid
.) I have ~1700 LPs, for a
Sota Nova turntable, with the vacuum system and
Reflex clamp, and a
Graham 2.1 tonearm. It needs a new cart, I've worn out a Benz Ace HO. I'll probably get one of the
Audio Technicas recommended at ASR. The phono amp in the Bryston has a spec sheet for this unit that measured both MC & MM SNR at -82 db, so that's perfectly fine. I'm not attached to the Bryston per se, as I'd like to run the LPs through DRC eventually, maybe even try some needle drops to the NUC, which may be easier with a less analog preamp. As I read through ASR, there are several options to accomplish all this.
I have LMS devices laying around for abuncha rooms. I have a $20 part, on the way from Britain, to hopefully resurrect a
Logitech Transporter (thank you Squeezebox online forums) streamer/DAC. I might use this in the main system until I get a more modern DAC, so I can use the TV digital outs instead of the analog, which I can hear are a bit noisy. I eventually plan to move the Transporter or Touch to a bedroom system, with
Revel M16s, smallish
subwoofer, old
Audio Alchemy OM150 amp and
DLC preamp. For crissake, I may even stick a
Sota Satellite turtable with
Audioquest arm and
Audio Alchemy VAC phono amp (also needs a
cart) in the bedoom, just because I have it. The Touch might end up back in a garage system, with a 1990s
Denon receiver and
Mordaunt Short bookshelves, or I might just use a
Chromecast that is plugged into a
32 inch Vizio for LMS or Spotify streaming. The sunroom gets a
Logitech Boom/
Polk SW10 subwoofer combo, with
2 Logitech Radios available to scatter about the house.
Sheesh. Stopping now. Will update with some photos as I finish the rooms. Will definitely ask for advice as I move into DAC/DRC decisions.
Happy Thanksgiving 2022, to those in the USA.
Edit: I got curious how many gizmos are involved in my almost whole-house audio attempt, and in just plain resurrecting the units I have. I underlined 'em, not counting cables, stands, router, record cleaning machine, etc. I count 32 units, to cover a living room, 2 of 3 bedrooms, the master bath, sunroom and garage. I've stumbled into being an audio enthusiast.