Pre-Amp/Amp or Receiver?

wald0
wald0 Posts: 62
edited January 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I'm trying to buy some Monitor 10's (with teh peerless tweets). What should I power 'em with, a straight power amplifier or a basic receiver? I don't need all that crap that comes with a receiver (radio, source switching). I just want clean power to get the sound from my iMac to the Monitors. I have all my tunes and videos on it. What would I need to get the line level right for a straight amp? I glanced at this Onkyo M-282 amp:

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000069E2V/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
also here:
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=M-282&class=Amplifier&p=s

I have a mini jack output on my iMac and I have a Monster Cable mini-jack to RCAs adapter. Can hook my iMac directly up to this amp and not need to buy a pre-amp? I really am not familiar with the whole pre-amp thing. Hopefully I don't need one.

-wald0
Post edited by wald0 on
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Comments

  • hydrostream
    hydrostream Posts: 549
    edited January 2009
    I have a nice M-282 used in the For sale section.
    jerry
    Main- GTP-500II,GDC-600,GFA-555II and energy C-500s
    Basement-Audiosource pre/tuner,GFA-545,Onkyo
    DX-1400 and RTI10s
    Garage-GTP-450,onkyo M-282 and R50s with RTi55
    drivers and X-overs.
    My baby 18' V-king Mod VP with a merc 2.4 BP.
    KTM 620 Supermoto
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited January 2009
    seems like a match made in heaven...............
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited January 2009
    The minijack on your Mac will also output digital with a mini Toslink-toslink cable. That will go into a DAC or receiver with an optical input (like an HK 3490 if you just want stereo) nicely. Just something else to consider.
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited January 2009
    Yeah, you really should consider a dac too if your going to play tunes from a iMac
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • wald0
    wald0 Posts: 62
    edited January 2009
    fbm211 wrote: »
    Yeah, you really should consider a dac too if your going to play tunes from a iMac

    Does that mean digital audio converter and is it expensive and why do I need this? lol
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited January 2009
    wald0 wrote: »
    Does that mean digital audio converter and is it expensive and why do I need this? lol

    To avoid using the DAC in the Mac. Audio quality was probably not a priority for Apple. Even if it was, the inside of a computer is not the best environment for avoiding noise.

    You don't necessarily need a stand alone DAC. A receiver with a digital input (and built-in DAC) would do you better than the Mac's analog line out.
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited January 2009
    Many good quality DACs can be had for 100.00-200.00 bucks.There is a nice AMCdac8 in the fm for 90.00.Just a thought to consider.I got a adcom dac and never looked back.I was really impressed with the SQ of the unit.But a reciever with a built in dac is cool too. A preamp,amp,and dac would make those 10s sound very nice.Seperate componets is the way too go IMO.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • wald0
    wald0 Posts: 62
    edited January 2009
    The idea of an preamp/dac/amp setup sounds very promising. If I am right, the iMac output (basically like a headphone jack) is already line level, so I don't know if I would even need a pre. According to wikipedia on "line-level" (if I'm reading it right), then headphone jacks are already high-level line.
    Could somebody please verify that I need a pre-amp, and even if I don't, would it make it sound substantially better?
    Here's the wiki:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-level
    I mean I try to do my own research, but it sometimes is confusing, so help from other gurus is definitely a plus for me.

    Ok, then the DAC idea, that is not really necessary at all if my pre-amp/amp has RCA inputs right, but it would just make it audiophile quality. Am I getting this right? I know that digital inputs are better than analog. ... but yet it started out analog...

    idk maybe I already have my answers but more thoughts would be great.
    I want to make sure I don't needlessly buy $100 accessories.

    -wald0
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