Recommendations please Album plus Ripped CD's

[stwainer]

Hi

Long time lurker and I need some advice.

I've been updating my audio setup slowly over the past few years. I've upgraded speakers to KEF Q100's ( which sound very nice to my ears) and my turntable to a Project T1 ( again, much better than I had in the past). Now I think it's time for an Amp upgrade, with maybe a separate phono preamp. This is where I need the advice.

My music sources are: 100's of CD's ripped to Apple Music ( I'm an "Apple" guy) and about a hundred LP's that ( since my turntable update) I've been getting back in to.

I'm thinking: Fosi Audio Box X5 + amp or an amp with an integrated phono preamp. Right now I have an ancient Insignia N5-R2000 Amp with integrated phono. What I'd like to do is be able to play albums well and be able to stream all my ripped Apple Music CD's from my MacBook or Phone or .... ?

Any advice would be welcome, Thanks in advance!

 

[Chrispy]

Budget? Amp power you want?

 

[Torin Krell]

Welcome to the forum Stwainer! More details would be helpful including budget, size of room, volume you listen at most commonly, and whether you will be adding a subwoofer - which would potentially team up with the Q100s nicely.

 

[stwainer]

Cheap

 

[stwainer]

The less spendy the better. I listen in my garage, so not the best acoustics, I'm usually pretty loud volume wise. My ears, and the rest of me, are pretty old. I do not plan, at this time, to add a subwoofer.

 

[Chrispy]

Does the Insignia still work well?

 

[stwainer]

The Insignia works, not sure how well though. It's a bit crusty due to age and I don't really have anything to compare it too anymore. That's part of the reason I'm thinking of an update/upgrade. I would imagine some of the newer amps, even at low price points, would outperform the Insignia, but I don't have any data to back that assumption up.

 

[Chrispy]

The Insignia works, not sure how well though. It's a bit crusty due to age and I don't really have anything to compare it too anymore. That's part of the reason I'm thinking of an update/upgrade. I would imagine some of the newer amps, even at low price points, would outperform the Insignia, but I don't have any data to back that assumption up.

Personally if it works generally well I doubt it's an issue, RIAA eq has been standardized for a long time. There are fairly simple ways to use your phone/computer to stream audio to your amp/speakers Do you want more power or something a different amp might actually provide? Generally with good source and speakers you're hard pressed to improve otherwise except in functionality.

 

[stwainer]

Fair. I guess then for expanded functionality, i'd like an "easy" way to stream my ripped cd's on Apple Music to that amp. Right now I plug cables from my MacBook to the Aux ports of the Amp. Which works, but the MacBook then has to be next to the amp and not on my lap ( where it belongs).

 

[Chrispy]

Fair. I guess then for expanded functionality, i'd like an "easy" way to stream my ripped cd's on Apple Music to that amp. Right now I plug cables from my MacBook to the Aux ports of the Amp. Which works, but the MacBook then has to be next to the amp and not on my lap ( where it belongs).

Variety of dacs/streamers to update your current amp with.....even bluetooth adapters might work (don't think Apple provides the same sort of external units any more using Airplay)

 

[stwainer]

Can I get maybe a top 3 list of dacs/streamers that might fit the bill for $300 or less?

 

[Chrispy]

Can I get maybe a top 3 list of dacs/streamers that might fit the bill for $300 or less?

Use the reviews here on asr, many good choices

 

[stwainer]

Appreciate that advice and have been looking, but was hoping to narrow it down a bit. There's a LOT of darn hardware here.

 

[stwainer]

ok, I think I've found the right reviews here to point me in the right direction. Thank you for your help

 

[DWPress]

Get a simple cheap WiiM Pro and use your existing Insignia. It integrates with Apple Airplay so you can stream local files from Mac phone or computer and opens the door to other streaming services if you want + integrated EQ and a whole lot more.

 

[stwainer]

What about the Wiim Mini ? Looks to do the Airplay thing, I'm not sure of the advantage of the Wiim Pro or Wiim Pro Plus over the mini?

 

[stwainer]

Oh and I see you have quite a few local files. What media are you using to store all that data?

 

[DVDdoug]

There are limits to what you can get out of vinyl...

The cartridge usually makes the biggest difference and a different cartridge will usually sound different (better or worse) but it's mostly frequency response and that can be more easily tweaked with tone controls/EQ.

Or the waxwing preamp ($500) would probably make a BIG difference by removing/reducing record noise and it has some other "adjustments". It's for people who don't like the sound of vinyl. (I don't have one... I haven't "played records" in decades, but sometimes I digitize an album that's not available digitally, and I use software to clean-up the "snap", "crackle" and "pop".)

 

[stwainer]

That Preamp is out of my price range, but looks like a nice bit of tech. I do enjoy my LP's at the moment, especially after I cleaned them. Bought a HumminGuru EZ Washer and that REALLY helped. Would have liked one of the fancy ultrasonic ones and that will be a future pick up at some point. It's amazing how much crud is in 40 ish year old LPs.

 

[DVDdoug]

That Preamp is out of my price range, but looks like a nice bit of tech.

Or $500 can buy lots of streaming or CDs!