I’m planning on building a nice audio system for my home office. (9m², listening distance ~1m)
I’m mainly looking for nearfield speakers (+subwoofer?) and a DAC + pre-amp/HP-amp.
I have some wiggle room in the budget. Mainly depending on if I find certain parameter-improvements worth the extra cost and total cost in general.
I’ve assembled a set just to give an idea in what budget region I’m looking. This is most likely not optimal, so that’s where you people can chime in and give advice.
DAC: Gustard X16
pre-amp/HP-amp: Gustard H16
Speakers: Adam Audio T5V
Subwoofer: Adam Audio T10S
Gustard X16: (€479)
+ Very good objective performance
+ connectivity options (including BT, balanced)
+ Looks like a good quality build
+ aesthetics
- price
Gustard H16 (€369)
+ Matches nicely with the X16
+ Looks like a good build quality
+ power output (HP)
+ Works as a pre-amp too (I need this!)
- price
- less impressive objective performance than the X16 companion (but still very OK)
Adam Audio T5V (€145 each)
+ Quite nice objective performance
+ price
+ size
+ aesthetics
- treble bump
Adam Audio T10S (€362)
+ specifically developed to work with the T5V
+ price
- Do I need it?
To me the budget seems out of proportion. The DAC + pre-amp is more expensive than the speakers with sub.
An integrated DAC/pre-amp/HP-amp would be nicer than a stack of separates. Would the Topping EX5 be just as good? I need some power for my DCA Aeon RT closed, but 1W should suffice, I guess. (other headphones: AKG K371, Sennheiser HD6XX, Hifiman Sundara )
Alternatives for the speakers I was looking at: (price each)
I’m mainly looking for nearfield speakers (+subwoofer?) and a DAC + pre-amp/HP-amp.
I have some wiggle room in the budget. Mainly depending on if I find certain parameter-improvements worth the extra cost and total cost in general.
I’ve assembled a set just to give an idea in what budget region I’m looking. This is most likely not optimal, so that’s where you people can chime in and give advice.
DAC: Gustard X16
pre-amp/HP-amp: Gustard H16
Speakers: Adam Audio T5V
Subwoofer: Adam Audio T10S
Gustard X16: (€479)
+ Very good objective performance
+ connectivity options (including BT, balanced)
+ Looks like a good quality build
+ aesthetics
- price
Gustard H16 (€369)
+ Matches nicely with the X16
+ Looks like a good build quality
+ power output (HP)
+ Works as a pre-amp too (I need this!)
- price
- less impressive objective performance than the X16 companion (but still very OK)
Adam Audio T5V (€145 each)
+ Quite nice objective performance
+ price
+ size
+ aesthetics
- treble bump
Adam Audio T10S (€362)
+ specifically developed to work with the T5V
+ price
- Do I need it?
To me the budget seems out of proportion. The DAC + pre-amp is more expensive than the speakers with sub.
An integrated DAC/pre-amp/HP-amp would be nicer than a stack of separates. Would the Topping EX5 be just as good? I need some power for my DCA Aeon RT closed, but 1W should suffice, I guess. (other headphones: AKG K371, Sennheiser HD6XX, Hifiman Sundara )
Alternatives for the speakers I was looking at: (price each)
- Kali IN-5 (€349)
- Focal Alpha 65 Evo (€349)
- Focal Alpha 50 Evo (€279)
- KRK Rokit RP5 G4 (€149) + S10 G4 (€399)
- Kali LP-6 (€155)
- Kali WS 12 => big subwoofer => expensive => overkill? (€645)