I'm making a plan to upgrade my home office setup.
Currently I'm running a 2.0 setup consisting of
Sources
- desktop PC (optical out)
- laptop (USB via docking station => USB switch / work)
- laptop (USB = > USB switch / private)
- Bluray (digital coax)
- Phone (BT LDAC)
DAC + Pre/HP amp: SMSL RAW-MDA1 (volume control is done here)
Amp: Aiyima A07
Speakers: DIY SB Acoustics Bromo
The desktop PC and the work laptop are using the same 2 screens. So it's not convenient to switch between these 2 when I'm working.
The desktop contains my music library. I can stream that library from the personal laptop while I'm working.
When I'm not working this inconvenience does not exist. The work laptop is not in use then.
My wishes:
(0) keep the budget within boundaries: this is not my main hobby)
1) I would like to add a subwoofer.
2) I would like to add ARC.
3) I would like to move the speakers to the living room and replace them with active nearfield monitors.
4) I would like to remove the private laptop from the equation and replace it with a very simple streamer.
The plan:
I don't want to replace everything at once. I like a gradual upgrade.
So the first thing I was thinking about is to add a subwoofer. Route the RCA out from the DAC to the Aiyima and the XLR to the sub. The sub needs XLR out (with X-over) to be able to complete the next step in the process.
Second step would be to replace the speakers and amp with active nearfield monitors. These would be connected to the XLR outputs on the sub.
I'm contemplating about reversing the order here: first replace the amp + speakers with active monitors and then adding the sub.
Next I would add ARC in the system. I would like it to be hardware based since I've got at least 2 sources where I can't run PC based ARC. (I know: DAC->ADC->DSP->DAC=>Amp is not optimal)
Lastly I would decommission the personal laptop and replace it with a very simple streamer.
The hope is that I don't need to replace components from the previous step. Just add to the system and replace what I currently have and want to replace.
I can already go into the specifics, but in general, does this look like a feasible plan?
What would be the best way to add ARC to this system? Would there be an audible difference between SMSL + ARC (IK Multimedia?) and a (for example) MiniDSP Flex?
Currently I'm running a 2.0 setup consisting of
Sources
- desktop PC (optical out)
- laptop (USB via docking station => USB switch / work)
- laptop (USB = > USB switch / private)
- Bluray (digital coax)
- Phone (BT LDAC)
DAC + Pre/HP amp: SMSL RAW-MDA1 (volume control is done here)
Amp: Aiyima A07
Speakers: DIY SB Acoustics Bromo
The desktop PC and the work laptop are using the same 2 screens. So it's not convenient to switch between these 2 when I'm working.
The desktop contains my music library. I can stream that library from the personal laptop while I'm working.
When I'm not working this inconvenience does not exist. The work laptop is not in use then.
My wishes:
(0) keep the budget within boundaries: this is not my main hobby)
1) I would like to add a subwoofer.
2) I would like to add ARC.
3) I would like to move the speakers to the living room and replace them with active nearfield monitors.
4) I would like to remove the private laptop from the equation and replace it with a very simple streamer.
The plan:
I don't want to replace everything at once. I like a gradual upgrade.
So the first thing I was thinking about is to add a subwoofer. Route the RCA out from the DAC to the Aiyima and the XLR to the sub. The sub needs XLR out (with X-over) to be able to complete the next step in the process.
Second step would be to replace the speakers and amp with active nearfield monitors. These would be connected to the XLR outputs on the sub.
I'm contemplating about reversing the order here: first replace the amp + speakers with active monitors and then adding the sub.
Next I would add ARC in the system. I would like it to be hardware based since I've got at least 2 sources where I can't run PC based ARC. (I know: DAC->ADC->DSP->DAC=>Amp is not optimal)
Lastly I would decommission the personal laptop and replace it with a very simple streamer.
The hope is that I don't need to replace components from the previous step. Just add to the system and replace what I currently have and want to replace.
I can already go into the specifics, but in general, does this look like a feasible plan?
What would be the best way to add ARC to this system? Would there be an audible difference between SMSL + ARC (IK Multimedia?) and a (for example) MiniDSP Flex?