#88999 - 01/08/12 10:40 PM
RR 2150 and External DAC
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Deputy Gunslinger
Registered: 01/08/12
Posts: 2
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After spending much time and money putting together a 5.1 (and ultimately 7.1) AV system with several Outlaw components, I am taking the plunge into a second 2-Channel set up. Since all roads lead to Rome, I find myself looking seriously at the RR 2150. It fits the bill nicely for my needs - except for one concern.
I'm just not thrilled about connecting an iPod to the front panel of the receiver via a mini-jack and hoping for the best. Since the 2150 has no digital inputs , I have been looking at exterior DAC and transport devices to provide a better interface for my iPod and the kids' iPhones. Such avenues can get pricey, but I'm willing to commit a reasonable sum in order to process the sound through something other than the DACs in Apple products.
Am I overthinking the issue? I'm interested in the thoughts of any of you who may have travelled that road.
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#89000 - 01/09/12 02:53 AM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: Carpetbagger]
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Desperado
Registered: 09/12/05
Posts: 619
Loc: El Cajon, California
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Actually the RR-2150 does have a digital input; the USB on the back panel. I'm not all that versed in the variety of iPod accessories but is there one with a digital out via USB? If you are looking for a DAC I can recommend the Cambridge Audio DACMagic. I use it to feed digital inputs from my CD player, Airport Express and laptop to my vintage integrated amp with great success. Enjoy!
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AvFan Outlaw 976 | ATI 2005 | M&K 850s Left, Center & Right, Surround-55s, MX-70B Sub | Harmony 950 remote | Panamax 5100 | OPPO UDP-203 | LG OLED55B7
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#89039 - 01/10/12 05:43 PM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: gonk]
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Deputy Gunslinger
Registered: 04/10/11
Posts: 9
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There are CD players with a usb input for an ipod you could use. The best reason to get a dac, however, is not to play music from an ipod but from a computer. The usb input will do that on the RR2150 but there are better quality dacs you can use as well.
_________________________
macmini (as server) -> Logitech Squeezebox -> Outlaw RR2150 -> PSB Imagine B, Beyerdynamic DT880
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#89112 - 01/14/12 03:19 PM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: renov8r]
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Deputy Gunslinger
Registered: 01/08/12
Posts: 2
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Thanks for the input. I'm sold on the RR2150, it's the remainder of the stuff I'm still thinking about. One question for Gonk - is the drop in sound quality from CDs to the iPod accessed through the front panel mini-jack input on the RR2150 similar to the drop in sound quality between CDs and an iPod on a good car audio system? In reality, I headed toward buying the darn thing, plugging it all in and seeing what (if anything) I need to add later. I just like to know what I'm getting into...
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#89118 - 01/14/12 09:58 PM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: Carpetbagger]
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Desperado
Registered: 11/13/02
Posts: 336
Loc: Illinois
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I'm sure gonk can weigh in, but in my experience the limited quality of the DACs in most car audio and the very limited headroom of factory amps means the "step down" to the iPod as a source is not as noticeable as in most decent home audio systems...
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#89119 - 01/15/12 10:31 AM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: renov8r]
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Desperado
Registered: 04/08/08
Posts: 2676
Loc: Columbus,North Carolina
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One of the biggest diferences you are going to experience is the size, quality and design of the speakers. Most car stereo speakers are single cone without a tweater section or a decent crossover. Aside from that, they are generally much less responsive and the enclosures are not designed for sound quality. Because the speakers are so much better in the home (even the cheap ones) and they provide most of the coloration in a digital system, you will hear a big improvement in SQ.
_________________________
Music system Model 990/7500/Magnepan 1.6 QRs/Technics SL1200 MK2/Aperion S-12 Subwoofer/OWA3/Sony NS75H DVD APC H15 Power Conditioner
TV System Large Advent Loudspeakers/ Polk center/Monoprice surrounds/Panasonic Viera 42 inch/Onkyo HT-RC260/Sony BDP S590/Directv
Home Theater System Onkyo PR-SC886/Outlaw 7125 Klipsch RF-82 L/R,RC-62 center, RB-35 SR/SL, BENQ HT1075, Outlaw LFM1-EX/OPPO BDP-83/Directv Harmony ONE Blue Jeans and Monoprice interconnects APC H15 Power Conditioner
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#89121 - 01/15/12 02:46 PM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: Carpetbagger]
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Deputy Gunslinger
Registered: 03/05/11
Posts: 2
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Also not Gonk, but...yes, the drop off in quality will be similar to that between CDs and an iPod on a good car audio system.
FWIW, my experience:
First, ran my ipod through a standard ipod dock (uses the ipod dac) and connected it through the RR2150 analog input. Not bad, but room for sound quality improvement, as well as no charging for the ipod.
Then, I got an HRT istreamer DAC. Sound quality definitely improved (my wife felt moved to say "wow"), and it charges the ipod. Still the HRT requires an external power source and is a bit flimsy feeling--you use the standard ipod connection cable to hook up the ipod, and the dock is not compatible. Also, no remote.
Currently, I use the Apple airport express connected via toslink to an inexpensive external DAC. This lets me stream all my digital music using my ipod as a remote. Also, any ipod with airplay can stream through the airport express. I am enjoying Pandora streamed from my ipod as I write.
If you require ipod access, the airport express plus a DAC with toslink input is a good option. Perhaps not "audiophile," but a clear audio improvement over the minijack input, and very functional and convenient.
Ken
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#89150 - 01/17/12 10:57 PM
Re: RR 2150 and External DAC
[Re: pdxkp]
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Deputy Gunslinger
Registered: 01/17/12
Posts: 4
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I'm not sure I understand what this product description says: "USB input for playback of streaming audio output from compatible computers".
So can I connect a Macbook via the USB and listen to, say 320 kbit/s MP3s?
Thanks.
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