Hi everyone,
I am looking on some advice on upgrading my system. As it stands, right now I have:
Sansui 881 Amp
B&W DM603 Speakers
Thorens TD-160 Turntable
Xbox/Blu-ray (that functions as my CD players as well)/Cable Box
I'm in the process of building a HTPC with HDMI output. The plan is to rip all of my CDs onto the HTPC and use it as a music server and a Netflix box.
The Sansui recently developed a hum, and so it's been out of service of late and I've been using an old Kenwood KR-A5070 receiver that I have kicking around. I was originally planning on having the Sansui fixed, but now I'm wondering if it might be better to spend my money elsewhere to upgrade. Specifically, I was thinking it might be a good idea to invest in a decent HT Receiver that has the inputs that I need for HDMI (I was looking at the Denon 1713).
My system is overwhelmingly used for music, which is why I'm comfortable keeping it 2 channel. For music listening, I'm guessing that I'll fairly evenly split the use of the turntable and the HTPC. That said, it is used for an occasional movie or tv show (mostly sports). If possible, obviously I'd like to improve sound quality. I live in an apartment, so the system isn't generally pushed to high volumes. I'm hoping to keep any upgrade under $500 Canadian if possible, cheaper the better obviously.
What I'm deciding between:
1) Fix the Sansui and buy an inexpensive DAC for the HTPC so that I can connect it directly to the amp. I'm guessing this will be the cheaper option.
2) Buy an inexpensive receiver and a phono pre-amp so that I can use the turntable with it.
3) Something else that I haven't thought of?
I'm not the most technically inclined, so I may have overlooked something obvious that won't allow one of these options to work. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I am looking on some advice on upgrading my system. As it stands, right now I have:
Sansui 881 Amp
B&W DM603 Speakers
Thorens TD-160 Turntable
Xbox/Blu-ray (that functions as my CD players as well)/Cable Box
I'm in the process of building a HTPC with HDMI output. The plan is to rip all of my CDs onto the HTPC and use it as a music server and a Netflix box.
The Sansui recently developed a hum, and so it's been out of service of late and I've been using an old Kenwood KR-A5070 receiver that I have kicking around. I was originally planning on having the Sansui fixed, but now I'm wondering if it might be better to spend my money elsewhere to upgrade. Specifically, I was thinking it might be a good idea to invest in a decent HT Receiver that has the inputs that I need for HDMI (I was looking at the Denon 1713).
My system is overwhelmingly used for music, which is why I'm comfortable keeping it 2 channel. For music listening, I'm guessing that I'll fairly evenly split the use of the turntable and the HTPC. That said, it is used for an occasional movie or tv show (mostly sports). If possible, obviously I'd like to improve sound quality. I live in an apartment, so the system isn't generally pushed to high volumes. I'm hoping to keep any upgrade under $500 Canadian if possible, cheaper the better obviously.
What I'm deciding between:
1) Fix the Sansui and buy an inexpensive DAC for the HTPC so that I can connect it directly to the amp. I'm guessing this will be the cheaper option.
2) Buy an inexpensive receiver and a phono pre-amp so that I can use the turntable with it.
3) Something else that I haven't thought of?
I'm not the most technically inclined, so I may have overlooked something obvious that won't allow one of these options to work. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
