Help Buying Dac Amp and Bookshelf Speakers

Oxoni on 09/03/2021 - 17:16

So it's finally time I upgrade my 5 year old logitech z200 speakers for some proper audiophile grade bookshelf speakers. But I'm having trouble deciding the best path for my situation.

I've currently got a Schiit Magni (gen 1) that I use with my headphones.

My main goal (best case scenario) is to buy a single dac/amp combo that will work with my headphones and speakers. One way I was thinking is to get something like a FX audio dac-X6 or Monoprice Desktop amp which can be paired with a powered monitors like Edifier 1280 DB or 1700BT; that is if the line out/pre out works like a pre-amp for the speakers.

Or an SMSL ad18 with similarly priced passive speakers (open to suggestions for these).

I'm willing to spend $150-$200 on speakers and ~$150 on the dac/amp, I know the ad18 comes to a little more but if it can satisfy what I'm looking for I can wait and push my budget to that if necessary (and if it's worth it).

If a separate dac and amp comes under budget and solves my need to connect to headphones and speakers at the same time then I'm open to those suggestions too.

Electrical & Electronics Amplifier DAC DAC Amplifier Speakers

Comments

  • mskeggs on 09/03/2021 - 18:28
    +2

    $150 speakers and audiofile grade don’t agree.
    The edifier speakers are pretty good for their very low price, but low quality for people interested in sound quality.

    • Oxoni on 09/03/2021 - 19:29

      How much would you recommend spending for a decent audiophile grade but budget speakers?

  • MagicMushroom on 09/03/2021 - 20:09
    +1

    Might as well get edifier s2000mkiii and skip on dac&amp. s2000mkiii is significantly better than 1280db & 1700bt. Don't know how much difference dedicated dac&amp will make tho

    • Oxoni on 09/03/2021 - 21:16

      So s2000 mkii>1700bt+a separate dac and amp? What about s2000 mkii with a cheap $30-50 dac?

      • MagicMushroom on 09/03/2021 - 21:37
        +1

        So s2000 mkii>1700bt+a separate dac and amp?

        Don't know how much difference dedicated dac+amp will make or if it will even work. I don't think you can bypass the amp in these units, unless you get edifier p17 or s3000pro.

        What about s2000 mkii with a cheap $30-50 dac?

        Unnecessary I think. Dac & amp inside should be decent, use optical in.

        • Oxoni on 09/03/2021 - 21:54

          Basically just need a dac for the speakers but also need a dac/amp for the headphones. I was thinking of just using the pre-amp that comes with a few of the dac/amps I mentioned to control the volume and pass the audio through that dac instead of the onboard computer one.

          Is optical in even possible through a computer? Does it deliver better sound than using the usb? Also I didn't know powered speakers came with decent dacs. Also also would the dac in the speakers be significantly better than the computer one?

          • MagicMushroom on 10/03/2021 - 00:59
            +1

            @Oxoni:

            Is optical in even possible through a computer?

            I assumed you had a desktop (which some has optical), defs not on laptop.

            Does it deliver better sound than using the USB?

            USB > optical. USB input for speakers are rare (s3000pro), optical is pretty common for edifier (r1280db, s2000mkiii etc)

            Also also would the dac in the speakers be significantly better than the computer one?

            In general, speaker dac > desktop >>> laptop. Dac in speaker and desktop can be decent depending on the price.

            what's in the s2000mkiii for example seems pretty good.

            • Oxoni on 10/03/2021 - 11:03

              @MagicMushroom: Yeah I definitely don't have optical out.

              The Edifier 1700 im looking at have rca for input which should be good enough for sound.

              Should definitely look for an external dac then cause I'm running it off my laptop.

  • trongy on 09/03/2021 - 21:22
    +1

    I've had the SMSL AD18 for about nine months and I'm quite pleased with it. The USB input works without drivers on Windows 10 and that's the input I mainly use. I sometimes use the Bluetooth input with AptX, but I haven't tested the other inputs.

    It sounds clean and has plenty of amplification with my speakers. I'm not really a headphone user so I can't comment about that. Note that you can switch between headphone and speaker output, but can't use both at the same time.

    • Oxoni on 09/03/2021 - 21:35

      Does it tend to overheat much? My magni get real warm after about 30 minutes of use (although this is a trait with the magnis and not a faulty unit). What speakers do you pair with that and how do those sound?

      • trongy on 10/03/2021 - 19:26
        +1

        I've had no overheating problems. The AD18 does get warm to the touch (perhaps 35-40°C ?). Once it gets up to the normal operating temperature it stays at that level even when it's on all day. I presume that the case is being used as a heatsink, whereas traditional amplifier designs used a larger case with air vents and an internal heatsink.

        I didn't mention the speakers as they are home built. About 20 years ago I got some old speakers with solid boxes from my father, ripped out the crappy drivers and fitted moderately priced woofers, tweeters and crossovers that I purchased from Jaycar. The AD18 has enough power to drive pretty much any pair of bookshelf speakers you choose.

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