I am considering my options for my main stereo set-up (this is the fun bit), I am basically wondering about adding a pre-amp to my setup whilst also thinking about room correction which could perhaps be done in the DAC/streamer etc.
I am currently using a NAD M23 power amp, with a RME ADI-2 DAC FS as a pre-amp/DAC (I have a Topping D90 DAC normally in my main set-up but I have swapped it with the RME for now). The DAC is fed by a Raspberry Pi4 streamer running Raspberry Pi OS and Roon Bridge (hardwired ethernet). I also connect a Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport into the DAC via spdiff toslink. My speakers are Kef reference 1. As I occasionally get power outages, the kit is all connected to a Cyberpower - CP900EPFCLCD Uninterruptable Power Supply. I have my roon core on an Intel NUC 12WSHi7 running ubuntu server.
I also have some room correction convolution filters loaded in Roon from Home Audio Fidelity, but obviously these are only applied to the Roon input and not for the CD input. I do still buy CDs but also rip them for use in Roon, but I do still like spinning discs too!
Anyway, I like the idea of a adding a pre-amp to my main set-up (as I am always slightly nervous, rightly or wrongly, that the speakers will be fed 100% power without a dedicated pre-amp), with a separate DAC which also has the possibility of running room correction filters.
In terms of the pre-amp, I have a few on my short list, the Topping Pre90 (I could pair it with my Topping D90 DAC), Schiit Freya S preamp, Hypex DIY preamp kit and the Benchmark LA4. I would want a good remote too.
In terms of the DAC, I have been looking at the Minidsp SHD (I can then move my RME back to my desktop), as this has Dirac included, so I could measure my room and do my own room correction, which could be applied to both the Roon and CD inputs.
Is this a sensible approach, e.g., passive pre-amp + DAC with room correct? Is there any other kit I should look at? I am in the UK, so would prefer to buy locally for warranty etc.
I am currently using a NAD M23 power amp, with a RME ADI-2 DAC FS as a pre-amp/DAC (I have a Topping D90 DAC normally in my main set-up but I have swapped it with the RME for now). The DAC is fed by a Raspberry Pi4 streamer running Raspberry Pi OS and Roon Bridge (hardwired ethernet). I also connect a Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport into the DAC via spdiff toslink. My speakers are Kef reference 1. As I occasionally get power outages, the kit is all connected to a Cyberpower - CP900EPFCLCD Uninterruptable Power Supply. I have my roon core on an Intel NUC 12WSHi7 running ubuntu server.
I also have some room correction convolution filters loaded in Roon from Home Audio Fidelity, but obviously these are only applied to the Roon input and not for the CD input. I do still buy CDs but also rip them for use in Roon, but I do still like spinning discs too!
Anyway, I like the idea of a adding a pre-amp to my main set-up (as I am always slightly nervous, rightly or wrongly, that the speakers will be fed 100% power without a dedicated pre-amp), with a separate DAC which also has the possibility of running room correction filters.
In terms of the pre-amp, I have a few on my short list, the Topping Pre90 (I could pair it with my Topping D90 DAC), Schiit Freya S preamp, Hypex DIY preamp kit and the Benchmark LA4. I would want a good remote too.
In terms of the DAC, I have been looking at the Minidsp SHD (I can then move my RME back to my desktop), as this has Dirac included, so I could measure my room and do my own room correction, which could be applied to both the Roon and CD inputs.
Is this a sensible approach, e.g., passive pre-amp + DAC with room correct? Is there any other kit I should look at? I am in the UK, so would prefer to buy locally for warranty etc.
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