HanTheMan
21-07-2010, 05:26
I just started building first non portable system in my bedroom/office. I managed to get my hands on a Dared MP-5 for a decent price of Sg$300 (about 150 pounds).
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue24/images/mp5.jpg
My current plan:
1) Get a decent pair of bookshelf speakers - this thing is supposed to supply 13W of solid state power but I'm guessing this is a very conservative number as I'm driving a pair of Yamahas from a mini hifi system pretty well (efficiency is nowhere near 90db). I've looked around and KEF, Mordaunt-Short, PSB, Audio Engine, Tannoy, JohnBlue, Klipsch, Omegas, Monitor Audio & Dali seem to have speakers that can do the job (some better than others) - hunting down local dealers so I can audition these.
2) Get a Squeezebox Touch to use as a server for my USB hard disk. This allows me to play music without having to have my pc on. Also, my music will not start to freeze up when i load a bunch of applications on my pc.
What I'm looking for is some advice on firstly, any recommendations for small bookshelf speakers that sound good on a low watt amp (which preferably come in a piano black finish to match the amp :P). It doesn't have to go too deep as I'm willing to add a sub in the future to supplement the low end.
Secondly, I've read that using the Touch this way can cause loss of sound quality due to the device doing extra processing. I actually have no use for the wireless or network capabilities of the Touch, so will shutting down all network capabilities of the device help offload processing? Or is there a device that is within the Touch price point that can act as a media server off a usb hard disk with better quality. (Note: building a PC dedicated to act as a music server will cost at least the same mount and will require an additional display screen - a solution I'f like to avoid.
:cool:
Han
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue24/images/mp5.jpg
My current plan:
1) Get a decent pair of bookshelf speakers - this thing is supposed to supply 13W of solid state power but I'm guessing this is a very conservative number as I'm driving a pair of Yamahas from a mini hifi system pretty well (efficiency is nowhere near 90db). I've looked around and KEF, Mordaunt-Short, PSB, Audio Engine, Tannoy, JohnBlue, Klipsch, Omegas, Monitor Audio & Dali seem to have speakers that can do the job (some better than others) - hunting down local dealers so I can audition these.
2) Get a Squeezebox Touch to use as a server for my USB hard disk. This allows me to play music without having to have my pc on. Also, my music will not start to freeze up when i load a bunch of applications on my pc.
What I'm looking for is some advice on firstly, any recommendations for small bookshelf speakers that sound good on a low watt amp (which preferably come in a piano black finish to match the amp :P). It doesn't have to go too deep as I'm willing to add a sub in the future to supplement the low end.
Secondly, I've read that using the Touch this way can cause loss of sound quality due to the device doing extra processing. I actually have no use for the wireless or network capabilities of the Touch, so will shutting down all network capabilities of the device help offload processing? Or is there a device that is within the Touch price point that can act as a media server off a usb hard disk with better quality. (Note: building a PC dedicated to act as a music server will cost at least the same mount and will require an additional display screen - a solution I'f like to avoid.
:cool:
Han