Hello all i have a question about my new set-up.

[bandontherun]

Hi, i have been into music all my life, and a lot of my friends have had very expensive stereos, but i have happily got by on 3 sets of old KEF's, two sets of Coda 2's and one set of cantor 2's with different amps through the years, currently running an acoustic solutions amp (just a poor student) and my technics sl bd22d record deck just packed in. I personally detest TV's and have not had one any of my flats for 4 years. So because of this i want to invest in a new hifi, something not too much (under 900), but will be more than enough for my needs.

I am going to purchase a Arcam p75 power plus amplifier and an Arcam rDAC and all cables. Will this setup work, straight away with just my Kefs.

PC(via USB) > rDAC > P75+ > speakers

Would this work? After a lot of looking (I have a feeling im going to look very silly now) i cannot find anything relating to volume control via the power amp, why is this? How will i be able to control the Volume.

Im terribly sorry if im coming across stupid, its just this is all new to me. Im a computer networker so this is different than what im used to.

Once i have more money, i am going to be buying a Rega Planar 2, and im planning on building my own tube pre-amp (from a kit- because i love building things, and this will make the system seem more mine) and most likely a set of Bowers and Wilkins 685's or maybe a set of Kef Q series not entirely sure yet.

Im into almost all music you can imagine, as long as it sounds good i will tend to love it.

Thank you for your time,

Jack.

[DSJR]

Hi and welcome.

If you look at the new Beresford Bushmaster II, you may find a superior DAC and with variable output as well. Check with Stan and I'm sure he'd put you right.

The power amp you propose was, I think, aimed more at Bi-Amping with its integrated partner, or possibly to be used with a-n-other powered preamp, hence the lack of any gain controls on the front. Only pro amps tend to have gain controls on them I believe...

[keiths]

Hi Jack, welcome to AoS :wave:

I don't think the rDac has variable output, so without a pre-amp in your system you'll need to use software volume control on your pc. Also the Beresford Bushmaster 2 that Dave mentions (which is a superb dac, by the way) has neither variable output nor usb input - so probably isn't going to be ideal for you.

[bandontherun]

Thank you Dave for getting back to me, I have already purchased the Arcam p75+ and the rDAC as it was a fantastic price, and i had to get it fast because of other interest. But i have it wired up at the moment, via optical form my pc to the rdac then to the p75+ and then out of my Coda 2's. It sounds beautiful, cannot wait to get all my other equipment. Well i am no expert, so from this point, what would you say my best option is, because you know a lot more about this than i do. I know i need a pre-amp as im including a turntable, but thats about it at this point.

Thanks again.

Jack.

[bandontherun]

Yeah im controlling it atm from volume mixer, which is not ideal. But this i have already thought of, im going to be setting up a small linux machine, to be wired into the rDAC via optical, ill set up a static IP on the linux machine, and be running a stream-to service from any network connected device, such as my phone, laptop, tablet, or my flatmate's devices. To allow me to stream from anywhere, anytime. Plus im running a Nas, with all my music on, so i can also choose to play from the nas, via any connected device. Im getting a pre-amp im just unsure as to which one now, i would like one with a remote, as the Arcam does not.

Thanks again.

Jack.