Budget System-Cambridge or AMC

heiney9
heiney9 Posts: 25,217
edited March 2005 in Electronics
Ok, so I have the bug to get a 2nd system for my office/computer room. I’m going to be adding a sound card w/ a digital out to my computer. I just purchased an AMC Dac8 digital to analog converter. So that is piece #1 of this ultra budget system that should sound pretty decent when I get done. I am seriously considering the Athena AS-B1 speakers. My compter will be the transport playing FLAC files and regular cd's.

I haven’t decided on what to power them with. I’ve narrowed it down to a few pieces. Keep in mind this ultra budget. I’m considering Cambridge Audio integrated specifically the new Azur 340A which I can buy new at Audio Advisor for $249. A bit more than I really wanted to spend. Or AMC like the 3100A or 3020 integrated’s. I feel the Cambridge would out perform especially the AMC 3020, but is it worth the cost difference for this system? I see the AMC’s on e-pay/Audiogon for $129-199. Are the AMC’s reliable? At $129 vs $249 it’s a no brainer I’d get the AMC. But I want this to be something that will last and sound decent and I’m just not sure of the AMC.

BTW I got my AMC Dac8 for $75 so that’s a bargain I can live with even if the quality isn’t what I expect, but they seem have a pretty good reputation.

In the speaker forum I’d asked about impressions of the Athena AS-B1, anyone own them? How are they?

Any comments/suggestions appreciated

Thanks

Heiney9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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Comments

  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited March 2005
    AMC is pretty solid gear, have no worries about that.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited March 2005
    Yeah, what he said.

    AMC = great gear, any way you care to slice it.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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