Spec me: Integrated Speaker Amp, Headphone Amp, DAC

Speaker orientation is not really relevant, what matters is tweeter being ear level if the speaker is not coaxial, if it's coaxial then doesn't really matter as there is no time alignment concern etc.

The NAD 3045 gets rather hot over long sessions so keep an eye on that as the internals are highly cramped together and there's a switching power supply in there too. the side panels slide out so you can take a peek at how it's all jammed in there. I think this heat cycle over the course of its in-warranty phase is what leads to the failures. Any hint of issues before warranty expires, knowing what I know now, I would be on the contact form to warranty repair to get it sorted, as said, every single D series model has had failures just outside of warranty.
 
mrk said:
Speaker orientation is not really relevant, what matters is tweeter being ear level if the speaker is not coaxial, if it's coaxial then doesn't really matter as there is no time alignment concern etc.

The NAD 3045 gets rather hot over long sessions so keep an eye on that as the internals are highly cramped together and there's a switching power supply in there too. the side panels slide out so you can take a peek at how it's all jammed in there. I think this heat cycle over the course of its in-warranty phase is what leads to the failures. Any hint of issues before warranty expires, knowing what I know now, I would be on the contact form to warranty repair to get it sorted, as said, every single D series model has had failures just outside of warranty.
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It's pretty warm. I gather from reading around that the auto-power-off is actually just a standby, and that it never really cools down if you leave that on. It was turned off when it arrived so hopefully it's been off for it's life so far.

I'll probably have it vertically once the new monitor arrives, and get the speakers on some wedges of some kind.

Might keep an eye out for a sub if a bargain appears.
 
Put a cheeky offer in on a Quad LF-66 that just been accepted. Should fit nicely under the desk and the Quad theme :P

Now do I pick up the Era-1s to complete the set :)
 
mid_gen said:
I've got an iFi ZenDac V2 which is on the way out (speaker output is dead), and some Bose active speakers from 15 years ago which have a mangled cable (thanks, bunnies) and are frankly a fire hazard.
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Can I have your Ifi Zen DAC for free if I pay for shipping, please? I need a donor for mine. Kthxbaai.
 
Quad LF-66 arrived today. Couple of light scratches but polished up nicely. I've owned Quad 11Ls on and off over the last 20-odd years since they were released, but never paired them with a sub before, despite them being obviously quite light at the low end.

Really nice sounding combo. I was a bit concerned about how much use I would get from the sub, as I live in an old brick terrace and bass tends to travel, but with the side ports on this sub, it's kinda weird, it's creating a bubble around my desk where you can feel the extra punch at the low end, but as soon as you walk through the doorway of my study it disappears and there's no rumbling to be heard from other rooms. Bonus :)

Now just gotta wait a couple hours for my 6k monitor to arrive and I can get this all setup properly.
 
Monitor arrived, so the speakers are now upright!

ixWymNI.jpeg


They need some stands though, about 6" should do the job. I don't think they look too ridiculous, they sound great which is the main thing.

Kuycon 6k monitor is lovely, but I've written about that on the Mac forum.

Got a lot of cable management to sort out....although there's not a huge amount of wires left now I'm just using the monitor's hub for the NAD + webcam USB.
 
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Agreed £149 for a pair of bespoke solid oak stands. Quite happy paying that to a local craftsman over some Chinese rubbish.

Issue now is that before, I would put my DT 990 Pros would sound like an upgrade from my speakers when I put them on. Now they sound awful compared to my speaker setup.

Those Era-1s are calling me still...
 
mid_gen said:
Agreed £149 for a pair of bespoke solid oak stands. Quite happy paying that to a local craftsman over some Chinese rubbish.

Issue now is that before, I would put my DT 990 Pros would sound like an upgrade from my speakers when I put them on. Now they sound awful compared to my speaker setup.

Those Era-1s are calling me still...
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Speakers set up properly > headphones, all day long and I say that as a headphone nut.
 
Even £6000 headphones can't beat a moderately priced 2 speaker setup being driven through a decent amp in a room that isn't terrible for acoustics.
 
Are you still looking for an amp, the Yamaha R-N2000A should do everything you want, it's based on the A-S1200 with added digital section. It also has native ASIO support if you wish to connect a PC / HTPC to it. Not cheap your looking at around £3k but they can be found on offer / open boxed returns occasionally.

europe.yamaha.com

R-N2000A - Overview - HiFi Components - Products - Home Audio - Audio - Yamaha - Other European Countries & Regions

With its authentic HiFi quality, the Yamaha R-N2000A is a next-generation Network HiFi Receiver, compatible with lossless and high-resolution music sources, including streaming services. It offers effortless ideal room acoustic adjustment with the Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer...
europe.yamaha.com europe.yamaha.com
 
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Admetos said:
Are you still looking for an amp, the Yamaha R-N2000A should do everything you want, it's based on the A-S1200 with added digital section. It also has native ASIO support if you wish to connect a PC / HTPC to it. Not cheap your looking at around £3k but they can be found on offer / open boxed returns occasionally.

europe.yamaha.com

R-N2000A - Overview - HiFi Components - Products - Home Audio - Audio - Yamaha - Other European Countries & Regions

With its authentic HiFi quality, the Yamaha R-N2000A is a next-generation Network HiFi Receiver, compatible with lossless and high-resolution music sources, including streaming services. It offers effortless ideal room acoustic adjustment with the Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer...
europe.yamaha.com europe.yamaha.com
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Not really fulfilling the requirements of sitting on a desktop! But I do like the look (and reputation) of these modern Yamaha amps, I'm a bit of a sucker for the VU meters :P
 
mid_gen said:
Not really fulfilling the requirements of sitting on a desktop! But I do like the look (and reputation) of these modern Yamaha amps, I'm a bit of a sucker for the VU meters :P
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One way around is to use a hi-fi stand under your desk to one side. Atacama make suitable stands you would need the base and one modular platform above it. Incidentally those Yamaha amps with the VU meters and vintage styling was done to be provocative, Yamaha spoke about this.

For desktop I use powered Adam Audio S2X's studio monitors that are designed for near field.
 
Admetos said:
One way around is to use a hi-fi stand under your desk to one side. Atacama make suitable stands you would need the base and one modular platform above it. Incidentally those Yamaha amps with the VU meters and vintage styling was done to be provocative, Yamaha spoke about this.

For desktop I use powered Adam Audio S2X's studio monitors that are designed for near field.
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Oh that I had the space for things next to my desk :)

The reason I wanted an amplifier is so I can make use of the Quad speakers I already had, and was reluctant to get rid of. If I was starting with a blank slate I'd just get a pair of Kef LS50 Wireless 2's and have been done with it, but I have a bit of a soft spot for these speakers, the piano gloss bird's eye maple finish is too nice and the sound is nice and relaxed and good for long days at my desk.
 
Well, you were right @mrk The NAD 3045 hasn't lasted two weeks. Went downstairs to make a coffee....and thought the builders working two doors down were starting to pour the concrete with a particularly loud pump.....

Then realized it was coming from my study, the subwoofer and speakers were going nuts with a rhythmic clicking noise across the frequencies. It's not responding to being reset at all.

Junk. 300 quid down the drain :mad:

So.....re-opening the thread.......I need a DAC and amp again.

Got a Fosi ZA3 and ZD3 in amazon basket at the moment.
 
Going back through the thread....

Topping PA7 looks decent.

Not sure I need to spend on the Luxsin, I'm not a headphones guy and I don't need or want lots of tuning...prefer just a simple DAC/Preamp.
 
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