V-Dacs, Imacs, Wadia 171is and all that jazz - help!

[andybee33]

Hi folks,

I'm new here (intro duly posted in the correct place though). I currently have a hifi in the living room (Rega Planar 3/Cyrus 5/Arcam CD72/Monitor Audio Silver 5i (these are for the chop)) and an imac in my study, with an ever growing collection of music on it. I also have an Apple Airport Express which I've used to stream music from the imac to a Yamaha soundbar under the telly.

Obviously, the time has start to come to be able to play digital music files on my hifi.... ! So far I've thought of the following options and would very much value some insight into the pros and cons of each:

1 - Buy a cheapie ipod dock for the hifi, sync my imac with my ipod an Bob's your uncle.

2 - Buy a swanky but expensive Wadia 171i digital ipod dock and a DAC and do the same as point 1 (but with better sound one would hope).

3 - Stream the music wirelessly to the Airport Express and connect this via a digital optical connection to a DAC plugged into the amp.

4 - Buy one of those dedicated things (I don't even know what they are called) that stream digital files to your hifi.

5 - Something else I don't even know about yet.

Budget is flexible depending on what future paths it might lead to but I'd really prefer to get this sorted for less than £500 as I need my few other beans to upgrade my speakers!!

As you can see - I'm staring into the barrel of a the gun of confusion and it isn't pretty. I like those Musical Fidelity V-things though. Always liked MF where I were a lad :)


Thanks,

Andy

[Welder]

Hello Andy.

“3 - Stream the music wirelessly to the Airport Express and connect this via a digital optical connection to a DAC plugged into the amp.”

This would be my choice but no V-Dac :eek:
Instead have a listen to the Rega Dac :)

[Beechwoods]

I would definitely check out #3 first too. You already have the Airport Express, and if you buy the right DAC, you can reuse that however your system evolves in the future. I only occasionally stream my music, but for me the AE is more than adequate; as you increase the size of your digital collection, or start collecting more high-res bitrate stuff, you might feel you need something capable of 24 bit material; the AE's main drawback being it only does 16/44.1...

There are a lot of very good, very good value DAC's around that would partner well with the AE. A few have been mentioned previously on AOS!

[Darren]

(intro duly posted in the correct place though).


We can call the dogs off then.......:lol:

There are so may options. I've bought a squeeze box touch and a hard drive. The touch connects to my DAC. There is no need to have the computer on at all. It sounds good. I like it. Worth every penny.:cool:

[Werner Berghofer]

Andy,


Stream the music wirelessly to the Airport Express and connect this via a digital optical connection to a DAC plugged into the amp.

Here’s another vote for option #3. As mentioned and illustraded with photos in this post (http://www.theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=53240&postcount=14) I use this setup to stream audio wirelessly to three different locations in my home.

[andybee33]

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the helpful comments. Yes, I can see the attraction in option 3 (using the AirportExpress that I already have rather than some sort of ipod dock arrangement). As such (and given much searching of this forum!!) I have just ordered a Beresford Caiman (with the Gator upgrade) and will use this with the Airport Express. A little bonus is that the Caiman might add some pep to my ageing Arcam CD72!

Anyway, I'll keep you posted about how it all works out.

Right - off to find some speakers!!

cheers :)

Andy

[Werner Berghofer]

Andy,


I have just ordered a Beresford Caiman (with the Gator upgrade) and will use this with the Airport Express.

congratulations, excellent choice! Don’t forget to add a Toslink cable with a 3.5 mm plug on one end to connect the Caiman to the Airport Express. Cables and adapters are available from Stan’s website (http://www.homehifi.co.uk/products/products.html) or other sources.

[slate]

Sounds like you are on the right path to enlightenment.

Hanging out here you will see that a bunch of us have seen the convenience of going digital; and then there are some that are still on the needle...

So while they fiddle with their azimuth we just :cool::fingers:
Ouch did I say that a out loud... I better :sofa:

[andybee33]

Cheers chaps! :) I'm not 100% ready to give up on my much-tinkered-with Planar 3 yet, though I suspect that if the Caiman thing works out well, it might only be a matter of time.

Not quite sure what I'd put on the top shelf of my hifi rack though?!! :scratch:

[Tim]

Not quite sure what I'd put on the top shelf of my hifi rack though?!! :scratch:
Things have changed since I took this picture, but..........

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/dico1-1.jpg

[andybee33]

Things have changed since I took this picture, but..........


A splendid place for any computer!!

Can I ask, did you put your CD player through the Caiman DAC too? If so, did it make much difference?

Cheers :)

[Tim]

Can I ask, did you put your CD player through the Caiman DAC too? If so, did it make much difference?

Cheers :)
Yes I did and it was a big improvement on the A3's onboard DAC. I now only use the CDP as a transport, using the digital coaxial output into the Caiman. I intend to sell it at some-point, but I haven't fully made up my mind to go 100% over to file based audio. Plus it's handy to have a CDP just to pop a disc in, or if friends bring discs round . . . so I may hang on to it :scratch: