Audio setup under 35k

[rahul9ue]

Hi,
I do not have much knowledge about the components to setup a good audio setup, and need help in setting up system with a budget of max 35k. Most of my music is mp3 which are there on my external HDDs, and need a system where I can utilize those. I have read a lot about amplifiers and good bookshelf speakers on this forum, but I am not sure what will be the best way to source my music to the amplifier. Please advise.

Regards
Rahul

 

[madbullram]

Given that you have most of your music in MP3 and a 35K budget, I would suggest the used route.

I recently got a setup done for a friend:
1. Topping 30 DAC + AMP = 6K (good VFM)
2. Wharf speakers - 10k
3. LAN cables made into speaker cables = 400rs
4. Monoprice Interconnects = 500 Rs

So around 17k he was extremely happy. He uses his laptop as the source. The laptop USB is connected to the Topping USB in. The Topping is then connected to the speakers.

You should for the following combo (search the forum and you will find advice on each of these)

1. A good DAC (search the forum for some good low cost DACs)
2. Amp (Topping 20 or 30 for low cost or Used route search for NAD, Marantz etc, also look at the for sale column)
3. Speakers - WHarf (search forum for more options)
4. Speaker cables from MX

Once you search and read, select some combinations and post it and we should be able to guide you.

 

[jaudere]

Given that you have most of your music in MP3 and a 35K budget, I would suggest the used route.

I recently got a setup done for a friend:
1. Topping 30 DAC + AMP = 6K (good VFM)
2. Wharf speakers - 10k
3. LAN cables made into speaker cables = 400rs
4. Monoprice Interconnects = 500 Rs

So around 17k he was extremely happy. He uses his laptop as the source. The laptop USB is connected to the Topping USB in. The Topping is then connected to the speakers.

You should for the following combo (search the forum and you will find advice on each of these)


Once you search and read, select some combinations and post it and we should be able to guide you.

Does topping offer a simple decent DAC,I mean without an amplifier?
What is your own opinion about this Topping 30 DAC + amp? I know one should not compare apples to oranges but still, did you compare it with anything mainstream?, At least philips/sony if not Marantz or NAD?
Can you please provide a for this product?

 

[madbullram]

Jaudere: 30 is a DAC + AMP combo. I did not compare it with marantz etc It cannot hold a candle infront of my DacMagic.

The best I can describe is its a VFM device. One direct comparison is, mp3 via T30 sounded similar to my iPod + Bose combination. So you can say its dac capability is similar to ipod. At 6k you cant ask for anything more

 

[rahul9ue]

Thanks madbullram ! I guess I did not make one thing clear in my post. I do not want to use my laptop to connect to the setup. I have my music on external HDDs (WD MyPassport), and laptop might not be available always. So, what do you recommend in such case. Should I look in into the media players from WD or Xstreamer ? Can these be connected to the DAC ?

Thanks,
Rahul

 

[madbullram]

Thanks madbullram ! I guess I did not make one thing clear in my post. I do not want to use my laptop to connect to the setup. I have my music on external HDDs (WD MyPassport), and laptop might not be available always. So, what do you recommend in such case. Should I look in into the media players from WD or Xstreamer ? Can these be connected to the DAC ?

Thanks,
Rahul

Thats a good option to start with. If you are going to use a media player then you need a good DAC as the media players have pathetic configuration for music output. You need to look for a DAC with DIgital input (Coaxial or Optical). This might increase your budget, search the forum and create combinations.

Also, read about Squeezebox, it is a good media player with a nice DAC inbuilt