Stereo amplifier

Sunner

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Oct 9, 1999
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I'm looking at getting myself a new amp for my computer, along with a pair of speakers.
Quality is more important than wattage, seeing as I have good hearing, and intend to keep it that way ;)

Anyways, price isn't that much of an issue, though I'd prefer to keep it below ?500, seeing as I'm no hard core audiophile or anything.
Was looking at the Cambridge 640A v2, mostly because I saw it at a decent price and it seems to have what I want, but I'm open to anything.

Oh and speaker recommendations are welcome as well, though I'm thinking about just going with another pair of Jamo's seeing as I'm quite happy with the ones I have now, and a friend of mine can get me a nice discount on them.
 

Sunner

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Oct 9, 1999
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Not unless you wanna catch a plane to Sweden and do it for me ;)

Then again, that would kinda defeat the Y part...
 

Zepper

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May 1, 2001
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Most compter sound isn't worthy of a $100. amp, much less a $500. one. The nice little Onkyo stereo receivers you can get here for $100. or so with careful shopping would be more than adequate.

.bh.
 

Sunner

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Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Zepper
Most compter sound isn't worthy of a $100. amp, much less a $500. one. The nice little Onkyo stereo receivers you can get here for $100. or so with careful shopping would be more than adequate.

.bh.

Well, I'd rather aim a bit too high than too low, considering I might just wanna use it for something else one day.
I have an X-Fi and listen almost exclusively to home-ripped music at good quality, so I guess as far as non-professional gear goes, it doesn't get much better in the computer world.
By the way, reason I want a new setup is because I am in fact using a cheapo Sony stereo/speaker setup right now, while I used to use my Marantz amp previously when I shared apartment with a friend, and we used his amp for our living room needs ;)
Difference is very noticeable between the two, and I miss the old setup.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
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Mar 4, 2000
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I use a neat little $35 model from Radio Shack. Does just fine with a set of KLH speakers from Costco.
 

Trippytiger

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Mar 3, 2005
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My dad has the Cambridge - if not the exact one you mentioned, then a very similar model. It seems to be a pretty good amp, but it's a bit of a waste unless you pair it up with a good source and good speakers. I'm not so sure an X-Fi would do it justice.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: Trippytiger
My dad has the Cambridge - if not the exact one you mentioned, then a very similar model. It seems to be a pretty good amp, but it's a bit of a waste unless you pair it up with a good source and good speakers. I'm not so sure an X-Fi would do it justice.

I don't think an X-Fi would have any issues bottlenecking something like this.
 

Trippytiger

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Mar 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Trippytiger
My dad has the Cambridge - if not the exact one you mentioned, then a very similar model. It seems to be a pretty good amp, but it's a bit of a waste unless you pair it up with a good source and good speakers. I'm not so sure an X-Fi would do it justice.

I don't think an X-Fi would have any issues bottlenecking something like this.

Well, having never actually heard an X-Fi, all I can do is make wild guesses, but I do feel that if sound quality is the goal, then a source designed expressly for that purpose would make more sense.

 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: Trippytiger
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Trippytiger
My dad has the Cambridge - if not the exact one you mentioned, then a very similar model. It seems to be a pretty good amp, but it's a bit of a waste unless you pair it up with a good source and good speakers. I'm not so sure an X-Fi would do it justice.

I don't think an X-Fi would have any issues bottlenecking something like this.

Well, having never actually heard an X-Fi, all I can do is make wild guesses, but I do feel that if sound quality is the goal, then a source designed expressly for that purpose would make more sense.

I guess it depends on what the use would be for.

I see potential for gaming in Sunner's rig links so that might have something to do with it.
 

Sunner

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Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Trippytiger
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Trippytiger
My dad has the Cambridge - if not the exact one you mentioned, then a very similar model. It seems to be a pretty good amp, but it's a bit of a waste unless you pair it up with a good source and good speakers. I'm not so sure an X-Fi would do it justice.

I don't think an X-Fi would have any issues bottlenecking something like this.

Well, having never actually heard an X-Fi, all I can do is make wild guesses, but I do feel that if sound quality is the goal, then a source designed expressly for that purpose would make more sense.

I guess it depends on what the use would be for.

I see potential for gaming in Sunner's rig links so that might have something to do with it.

Actually, when gaming, I don't pay THAT close attention to the sound, music quality is more important, which is why I, as mentioned, rip my own tunes and such ;)
Still, I'd agree, the X-Fi is probably enough to bottleneck most cheapo setups, and like I said, I might just end up using this for something else in the future, so I'd rather aim a bit too high.

Oh and we don't have Radio Shack in Sweden ;)