Tír Na HiFi

Нi All,

Eventually I have managed to purchase Audio Note AN-E speakers.

Unfortunately, I have no other equipment to enjoy their sound at this moment. My previous gear was sold few months ago.
Therefore I need the following:

- Audio Note speaker stands. Or, may be someone knows where in Dublin I can order to build them.

-Speaker cables. Generally, I don't believe in expensive wires. So something thick, multi stranded, made from OFC, terminated with banana plugs will do. Must be bi-wire.

-Good integrated valve amp. Preferably, the one I can switch off with remote(if it exists, my knowledge in valve amps is very limited). Puresound, Audio Note, Eastern Electric, Icon, Manley, Unison Research, Audio Research?????? Just the names which I have heard.

-Source. Hard drive based. Controlled by I Phone. I haven’t decided yet what exactly I need. Options are:
-Mac Mini + external HD + DAC
-NAS + Linn Sneaky DS + DAC
-NAS + Linn Majik DS
- Olive 4hd
-Olive 3hd + DAC
Whatever will give the best result in my system at reasonable price? I don't need wireless or multiroom set up.

I would appreciate any help in building my system - technical advice or offer of the equipment.

Cheers
Andrei

I don’t use it as my main source but when I am too lazy to put in CDs or put on vinyl I use a MacMini coupled with the iPad iRetmote App. It is a really nice setup. There are a number of recent reasonably priced DACs on the market that support asynchronous USB which should give you the best solution. I currently use the mini toslink to the DAC input on my CD.

The shine integrated amp for sale here by Fergus might be a good buy..... certainly worth a listen anyway.


As regards the source - I don't think you could go too far wrong with jkenys USB hiface-dac. Best sound for reasonable money out there in the digital realm and AFAIK will work on windows or mac (but not linux). I can attest to its superb sound, and have compared it to some pretty high end sources. Give him a PM......


Fran