I love what this forum provides. I'm an engineer, so I believe in measurements. I can't read traditional audio reviews and publications where audio gear is described like wine with flowery language. I started lurking here because I was ready to buy new gear to last me a lifetime, but I didn't want to spend the huge sums asked by many high-end audio companies.
I quickly decided to buy a separate DSP/DAC and Class D power based amp on the conversation here. An affordable amp that measures well, is physically small, runs cool, and sips power? SIGN ME UP. The problem is that I was stuck in analysis paralysis. I didn't want to buy ICEpower after seeing the Hypex results. Then Purifi came about and I didn't want to buy Hypex. Forget the DSP situation where every day another one would post good results. I waited and waited. Eventually I bought a miniDSP and a stereo Purifi amp from one of the better regarded manufacturers that doesn't do any questionable stuff with the input buffer. Anyway, here's what I ended up with:
Before: Nvidia Shield -> Yamaha RX-V1800 -> KEF T305 (2 T301s on each R/L channel, plus the T2 sub)
After: Nvidia Shield -> miniDSP SHD -> Purifi Amp -> Ohm Walsh Tall 2000s + Rythmik E15HP2 (1000W Sealed 15" sub)
I replaced the speakers first - and it was the biggest improvement. I love the Walsh speakers, but the moral for me is that speaker selection is a much bigger part of the pie than amp or DSP selection, and probably deserves more research and proportion of budget. The Rythmik sub is awesome for its size, although I feel like I literally never push the thing to its limits.
I added the miniDSP SHD next. It's whisper quiet and I can't hear any hiss at max volume. That said, I couldn't hear any sound quality improvement from the DAC itself relative to the Yamaha, but Dirac is a game changer. I don't think I can listen to non-room-corrected bass anymore. Night and day. I now consider it a requirement.
I then replaced the Yamaha completely with the Purifi amp. It's perfect. It's tiny, quiet, and cool. No hiss even at max volume. I literally believe that I will never buy another amplifier again. Why would I need to? That said, I am unable to hear an audible difference compared to the Yamaha other than MAYBE at absolutely ear-splitting volumes.
Why am I saying this? Because I researched for MONTHS and agonized over these decisions, but In the end I can't hear any difference from the DSP + Purifi amp in regular listening over the big Yamaha. Maybe other people can, my ears aren't particularly sensitive, I'm just passing on my experience. I would buy both again because of Dirac and the amazing value class D amps can provide, but I also think I would have had the same experience with a cheaper Hypex amp. Not to mention I could have saved months of internal debate.
I have a lot of respect for the old Yammie. I don't know if it measures as poorly as the new ones or not, but it sounded great and lasted me a decade.
TL;DR - Dirac good. Don't stress so much about the having the very best measurements, you probably won't be able to tell anyway. Buy good speakers.
I quickly decided to buy a separate DSP/DAC and Class D power based amp on the conversation here. An affordable amp that measures well, is physically small, runs cool, and sips power? SIGN ME UP. The problem is that I was stuck in analysis paralysis. I didn't want to buy ICEpower after seeing the Hypex results. Then Purifi came about and I didn't want to buy Hypex. Forget the DSP situation where every day another one would post good results. I waited and waited. Eventually I bought a miniDSP and a stereo Purifi amp from one of the better regarded manufacturers that doesn't do any questionable stuff with the input buffer. Anyway, here's what I ended up with:
Before: Nvidia Shield -> Yamaha RX-V1800 -> KEF T305 (2 T301s on each R/L channel, plus the T2 sub)
After: Nvidia Shield -> miniDSP SHD -> Purifi Amp -> Ohm Walsh Tall 2000s + Rythmik E15HP2 (1000W Sealed 15" sub)
I replaced the speakers first - and it was the biggest improvement. I love the Walsh speakers, but the moral for me is that speaker selection is a much bigger part of the pie than amp or DSP selection, and probably deserves more research and proportion of budget. The Rythmik sub is awesome for its size, although I feel like I literally never push the thing to its limits.
I added the miniDSP SHD next. It's whisper quiet and I can't hear any hiss at max volume. That said, I couldn't hear any sound quality improvement from the DAC itself relative to the Yamaha, but Dirac is a game changer. I don't think I can listen to non-room-corrected bass anymore. Night and day. I now consider it a requirement.
I then replaced the Yamaha completely with the Purifi amp. It's perfect. It's tiny, quiet, and cool. No hiss even at max volume. I literally believe that I will never buy another amplifier again. Why would I need to? That said, I am unable to hear an audible difference compared to the Yamaha other than MAYBE at absolutely ear-splitting volumes.
Why am I saying this? Because I researched for MONTHS and agonized over these decisions, but In the end I can't hear any difference from the DSP + Purifi amp in regular listening over the big Yamaha. Maybe other people can, my ears aren't particularly sensitive, I'm just passing on my experience. I would buy both again because of Dirac and the amazing value class D amps can provide, but I also think I would have had the same experience with a cheaper Hypex amp. Not to mention I could have saved months of internal debate.
I have a lot of respect for the old Yammie. I don't know if it measures as poorly as the new ones or not, but it sounded great and lasted me a decade.
TL;DR - Dirac good. Don't stress so much about the having the very best measurements, you probably won't be able to tell anyway. Buy good speakers.
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