[dasher123]

Thought i'd post some pics of my rather humble 2.1 set up:

(i use this system mainly for music, and put it together with music in mind, but it does a pretty good job for movies as well)

Gear:

Music Hall a25.2 Integrated amp (50 wpc x 2 @ 8 ohm)

Onkyo DVCP704 dvd changer used as a CD transport/changer

external DAC: Super pro 70 (modded) DAC inabox

Parasound ztuner v-2 tuner.

Onix (av123) x-ls classic 2 way monitors in white shadow maple

Onix (av123) x-sub (hooked up to pre amp outs of the music hall)


(occasionally i have used an Onkyo M282 2-ch power amp fr movies, but i think the Music Hall sounds better by itself, depsite the onkyo power amp's higher wattage.)

Video:

Panasonic BD60 Blu Ray for BD and DVDs (no pics of this below; pics are a bit old.)

Sammy 40" 550 series LCD (1080p)

and now pics:

 

[WCoast02]

cool. I'm jealous. Does that external DAC really improve the sound over just using the DAC in the onkyo CD player?

 

[dasher123]

Thanks man.

OH yes !!! there was a BIG difference in sound quality with the tiny DAC inthebox; several people i know came and tested it/auditioned it, and the tiny DAC just made the $100 Onkyo DVD changer sound like a $800 machine, they all agreed; one of them had a modded Paradisea DAC, which was about $700 i guess? and my tiny DAC came very close to beating it, and it was just $80, and mods cost another $30 or so (a friend changed some caps, and added some electrolytic paper)

 

[WCoast02]

Love the cost to quality ratio on that DAC. Really amazing.


The music hall amp has pretty low watts per channel. Do they really make that amp with the intention that most people will probably use a power amp with it? and you say you have to use a power amp when playing movies? so you're saying that movies usually need the extra power, but music doesn't tend to? Does it usually work that way?


still kind of new with this stuff. Hence all the questions. thx

 

[dasher123]

No no; i should have been more clear:

the movies don't NEED more power at all.

The 50 wpc on that thing is REAL watts and probably under-stated.

I THOUGHT adding a power amp might make movies sound better, but it really didn't. (the onkyo power amp is supposed to be 100 wpc, and to me, the MH alone sounded more punchy and powerful...go figure)


That MH amp is a tiny beast; it weighs a lot for its size, and the analog but digitally operated vol control (one of the best, so i hear) goes from 0 to 80.

I can hardly get it up 40 and that's enough to vibrate and pressurize the room (not SO small room) for music and especially for movies (i turn the sub up a bit for movies). and the great thing is, even at that level the music is clear and refined, and i listen to jazz and alternative rock mainly. I could NOT find an int amp that did BOTH those genres of music as well as the MH for the price and it's built like a tank, too.


this amp is NOT meant to need a power amp; it was a rather stupid experiment of mine

here's some more info on the MH amp: (i got it for $375 shipped on Audiogon in mint condition):
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHA25.2