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Quick question about home audio system

NaOH

NaOH

Diamond Member
I'm putting together a home theater system that will include an independent CD player....either Marantz or NAD. I'm making sure if I'm thinking about this correctly, but you would want to hook up the cd player using the analog outputs into the analog inputs of the receiver so the CD uses it's D/A and such instead right?

My receiver is a so so older Denon and I'll be using Athena tower speakers for the stereo (I love music a lot and just want to be able to unwind in my lazy boy as I listen to my CD collection).

Any recommendations that can benefit my system in the stereo department such as an amp? I don't want something extraordinarily expensive if it's not going to be obvious to a certain degree.
 
Yeah, if you got a nice CD player like that you'd want to hook up via analog. I'm not that much of a music guy so I'm not going to pretend to know the best options for you. There are a lot of options out there for the path from CD to your speakers. Some guys will just use a CD player as a transport and then get an external DAC to go between the player and the receiver (or processor / pre-amp / whatever they're using).

Again, this is coming from a more HT perspective, but I found upgrading the speakers to make a much more significant impact vs. upgrading amplification. Going from a ~$400 MSRP receiver to separates with an MSRP of ~$3000 was a jump in quality, but not as much of jump from either of my changes from ~$200/pair speakers to ~$800/pair speakers to ~$2000/pair speakers. It's going to depend on your listening habits for how much an amp is going to help as well. If you're not really pushing your denon much, then the benefits of an amp are going to be reduced.

What's a reasonable price for an amp for you?


Other suggestions on things you can do:

Optimize the placement of your speakers and your listening position
Get room treatments
 
NaOH, does your current Denon receiver have a 'direct' or 'pure audio' mode?

Another option would be to purchase a small tube amplifier for your CD player.

 
Originally posted by: biggestmuff
NaOH, does your current Denon receiver have a 'direct' or 'pure audio' mode?

Another option would be to purchase a small tube amplifier for your CD player.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it has those, it's kind of dated. It's currently at home so I don't have the model number to look up. I would highly consider a tube amp, but aren't those generally $$$$? I'm not looking to spend a whole lot on an amp at this point, probably under 800 for now. I will probably hold out and save up for one since I'm in no rush (i can just use the denon for now).

To Jelloo...

Yeah, I'll be adjusting the placements using some calibration dvds i have but since it's an apartment. I don't think I'll be doing much room enhancements.
 
Unfortunately I'm in the same boat for apartment living and not really being able to do what I want 🙁
 
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