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Setting up - advice and/or thoughts with an existing backbone

Duraace9sp

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Dec 6, 2020
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I’m still struggling and reaching out for advice on the needed or recommended components. I’m not computer savvy enough for an HTPC and have never streamed audio except pandora in a car vis Bluetooth from a phone.

my remnants which are decent include:
-11speakers
-amplifiers (7x)
-3 sub’s
- CD player

new components acquired so far:
-new 4K hdmi 2.1 tv
-blue ray 4/8k atmos etc player


im struggling with the AVR/AVP, DAC (needed or not?) and music server/streamer.

regarding a DAC or AVR/AVP I just want it to work and work well with very good audio - not good but very good. My understanding is I need the AVR/P to do the movies and new video formats so I expect I will need to obtain one (anthem/monolith/demon/emotive/a ram/etc). while my questions here are not which products; rather how to implement the needed or recommended components pls feel free to comment or expand - I need help - hopefully before spending.

noting the above (if I am correct and need an AVR/P) is there a need or measurable benefit to include a DAC like a topping D90 or SMSL / etc? If yes - why, and how would I integrate the DAC with the AVP/R?


For streamer / music server: an example of my struggles for a streamer/server includes I was considering a NAD M50.2 (S&S has refurbished ones at around 50% off) or the vault 2i. My challenge for me here is how do I interface with the possible AVR/AVP? I understand I can bypass the blue sound DAC. Would I be best served going to the AVP/R and using this in lieu of the internal DAC? Interestingly I have been exchanging emails with. NAD. Here’s the last excerpt:

8ByeyS8N4QHQ2CCXjrOOD2R3P5NlxrJ8MhTBzArHg16PA5upYkIzmIgyKHERdoIrereTyeo1s2x50eFJy1wYJZg1ICwvA4pqFnZwh8gs6K7I=s0-d-e1-ft

Jade L. (NAD Electronics)
Jan 22, 2021, 3:35 PM EST
Hello Doran,

Thank you for contacting the NAD Electronics Support Crew regarding your interest in the M50.2!

Please find the answers to your questions below:

DB: It is now a very old unit. The NAD firmware updates while current have had little specifically for the m50.2. I am concerned it is a dated unit and am hesitant to purchase as I’d expect it has been left behind.​
NAD: This is true. The NAD M50.2 was one of the very first devices to support the BluOS Software. Since then, there have been a number of new products and releases. You can trust the BluOS will continue to support the M50.2. However, the hardware could be approaching end of life.

I highly recommend that you look into the Bluesound Vault 2i: https://www.bluesound.com/products/vault/


DB: Can I send the data stream to an external DAC and / or a PrePro’s internal DAC via USB?​
NAD: No, the USB can not be used as a digital audio output.


DB: Same question but can I go to the PrePro via HDMI and is this the highest quality from the m50.2?​
NAD: All of the M50.2 digital outputs are equally high quality. Optical, Coax, and HDMI are all capable of outputting 24bit/192kHz audio.


DB: Can I add an external usb drive to expand the library and draw from the external and internals content in a mixed/mixing format - and also integrate streaming so I can blend/mix the internal external and streamed content out to the DAC/system?​
NAD: Yes and yes. I recommend that the external USB drive has its own power source as the USB ports on the M50.2 may not have a high enough voltage to power larger drivers in addition to data transfer over just the USB connection.


Please note that the Bluesound Vault 2i is a condensed version of the NAD M50.2. It has all the same features in regards to an external USB library, high res digital outputs for external DAC's, streaming, and it is a much younger product.

It does not have internal drive redundancy like the M50.2 but there is a backup option for creating your own redundancy.

I hope this helps! I'm going to mark this ticket as solved.

Kind regards,

I was totally surprise NAD basically said forget about our expensive master series; after this response the M50.2 sounds like a pass. So if I obtained a vault 2i and want to bypass its DAC do I go to the AVR/p and am done or do I insert an external DAC in the stream - and where - between vault and AVP/R or is it beneficial or even possible to bypass vault DAC pass thru AVP with no conversion and place the DAC here? Then how to I control volume speakers etc. seems messy? Maybe wring as well.....hence my struggles.

final is does the streaming service go to vault type of product or the AVP - I believe the vault? (Vault To AVP?)

im still not certain of the need for the DAC and if yes then why where and how?


in conclusion: how to setup the system as like many a do everything but audio priority in this single system?

if anyone cares to help my understanding and or make suggestions or offer options to consider - thank you
 
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