item_audio;692989 Wrote: > Some crucial points there: I would add that taking speakers into someone > else's room is a no-no: it pays to think of your speakers and room as > two components of the same cabinet (which it is!) There's no substitute > for listening to equipment in your own room and system, for an extended > period of time, not just a 'flash' audition: very often, your opinion > of/acclimation to a piece of equipment changes considerably in the > first weekI agree, but I know of no dealer that will let you take home new, > boxed, equipment to try. Most are loathe to loan demonstration equipment out to customers as they may need it in the meantime. However, a few will let you buy and then return second hand kit that would otherwise sit on their shelves. The main thing is to build up a decent relationship with a dealer. Far better than saving a few quid by buying discounted stuff on the internet and ending up disappointed.
Personally I found that my own speakers in the dealer's listening room was a reasonable compromise. Better than listening to the amp via a different brand or model in any case. > 1. Is it worth it to spend on a better DAC than the one you already > have?He is going to be listening to compressed formats streamed by Spotify. I would be very surprised if any DAC made an appreciable improvement. Different maybe, but better in any really obvious way? I doubt it. However, if he finds a decent dealer he should be able to find that out for himself and not rely on the unreliable opinions of the likes of me! -- TheLastMan Matt http://www.last.fm/user/MJL-UK *SqueezeBoxes:* SB Duet (Controller + two receivers) *Server:* Synology DS107+ (500GB) NAS running LMS 7.7.0 on SSODSmod 4.14 *Network:* Netgear DG834GT ADSL modem/router, 2 x Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 as access points *Livingroom:* Receiver into Naim 42/110 amp, B&W CM2 speakers *Kitchen:* Receiver into Denon DM37 mini-system, B&W 686 speakers *Study:* Linn LP12, Naim 72/Hi-cap/Headline. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TheLastMan's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16021 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=93776 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
