DAC&Amp combo vs receiver for music + TV and bookshelf speakers recommendations

[frantakiller]

As a long time headphone user, I am looking to expand into the stereo world and hoping to get some help! I am looking to setup a stereo system for playing digital music files, both streaming from Spotify / phone in general and local FLAC files stored on a NAS. I also wish to use the system for playing sound from the TV. As such, I was wondering whether a receiver or a dac+amp combo would be a better fit for my use case. I will not be using surround, just 2.0 stereo speakers.

I am looking for something that doesn't rely on the TV as a source, but can be used independently.The TV will use AppleTV as its source. I am also not opposed to having an extra source for the dac+amp if that turns out to be the best way to do things. The TV is an LG C4, so eARC and optical are available. Both ethernet and wifi are also available.

I am also on the lookout for bookshelf speakers to go with this setup. I am living in a smaller apartment, so the speakers I have in mind are a 2.0 setup that doesn't make the downstairs neighbors hate me while still providing solid sound quality. The speakers will be placed on the TV stand, approx 150cm apart, while the sofa is placed approximately 250cm away. Ideally the speakers should be visually unimposing and black color.

I am in Norway and I am looking to buy both the speakers and whatever will drive them used, which means finn.no . There are 1500 amps/receivers and about 7000 speakers for sale there right now, so I am hopeful I will find something. The budget for this is around 10 000 NOK (~1k USD) total for both speakers and receiver combined, but that is a baseline, I am flexible there.

It would seem something like the Denon DRA-100 or the YAMAHA RX-V779 / Yamaha RX-A850 would fit my need nicely, but I am open to any tips. For speakers, the B&W 685s2 or Kef Q350 seem for instance like a perfect fit wrt. budget and size.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @frantakiller! Welcome to ASR.

Personally, I would buy a WiiM Amp Pro and whatever bookshelf speakers you can find used. The DBR62 would be sweet!

 

[frantakiller]

Hi @frantakiller! Welcome to ASR.

Personally, I would buy a WiiM Amp Pro and whatever bookshelf speakers you can find used. The DBR62 would be sweet!

Thanks for the kind words and for the tip! I have been looking into the WiiM, but seems the Amp Pro is in short supply around here, only the non-pro version or the ultra version. I assume the ultra version at least should be comparable? As for the speakers, I've found a combo deal for 500USD for both the DBR62 and the WiiM non-pro amp, so might take that!

 

[staticV3]

I assume the ultra version at least should be comparable?

The WiiM Ultra does not contain an Amplifier. Its outputs are limited to Digital out, Line out, and Headphone out.

You could use it directly with Active Monitor speakers, but for passive Bookshelves you'd have to buy an additional Amp.

 

[frantakiller]

The WiiM Ultra does not contain an Amplifier. Its outputs are limited to Digital out, Line out, and Headphone out.

You could use it directly with Active Monitor speakers, but for passive Bookshelves you'd have to buy an additional Amp.

Right, of course. Thanks again. Super helpful with all the gear measurements here, but a very intimidating world when entering!

 

[kyuu]

The non-Pro Wiim Amp is perfectly fine if the Pro is a little too expensive and/or not available. I use it regularly for a secondary stereo system. It does absolutely everything you need (and more).

 

[frantakiller]

The non-Pro Wiim Amp is perfectly fine if the Pro is a little too expensive and/or not available. I use it regularly for a secondary stereo system. It does absolutely everything you need (and more).

I have been reading up on it since and it seems like a good buy. However, it seems that due to the worse implementation of the PFFB, the output is load dependent, which would pair poorly with for instance the DBR62, no? The question then is, how much does it really matter?

I said previously I could get the non-pro amp and DBR62 for 500USD, which was wrong, unfortunately, it was DB62, not the reference model, so not quite as good of a buy as I was hoping.

My options are now:
1. $500USD for WiiM Amp and ELAC DB62 (both used)
2. $1200USD for WiiM Amp Pro and ELAC DBR62 (both new)
3. $1000USD for WiiM Amp Pro and ELAC DB63 (both new)

Seems like the first option is better bang for the buck, but I am on the lookout of other used speakers that could be a good deal. So far no DBR62s unfortunately.

 

[kyuu]

It's tough to predict, but would be easy to measure the result of any interaction between the Wiim Amp's load dependency and a particular speaker's impedance curve. But just eyeballing it in a decidedly non-expert way:

You might get a rising response in the treble starting around 5kHz? All I can say for sure is I use it with the Elac BS41, whose impedance curve looks like this:

And at least subjectively, I don't notice it sounding too bright. If you do notice an issue, luckily the Wiim includes EQ so you can correct it.

 

[frantakiller]

It's tough to predict, but would be easy to measure the result of any interaction between the Wiim Amp's load dependency and a particular speaker's impedance curve. But just eyeballing it in a decidedly non-expert way:

You might get a rising response in the treble starting around 5kHz? All I can say for sure is I use it with the Elac BS41, whose impedance curve looks like this:

View attachment 444881

And at least subjectively, I don't notice it sounding too bright. If you do notice an issue, luckily the Wiim includes EQ so you can correct it.

Good information here! Since I'm not pressed for time, I will wait for a better deal on the dbr62, I think.