Akurate DSM with Classe CP800

[rumnyc]

I am able to get a Classe CP800 in a very good price. Actually I was going to get B&W 804 Diamond speaker and Classe M2300 amplifier to go with my newly purchased Akurate DSM but the dealer is throwing me an irresistible deal on a CP800 (~1500GBP) to add on to the other two items.

I really need the HDMI features of Akurate DSM but I am able to turn off pre-amp and hookup to the CP800 via XLR and I can also dual connect using digital to bypass the ADSM and the Classe's DACs. The Classe has parametric EQ and bass management for digital inputs so should be fun to experiment.

I did consider changing my Akurate DSM to Akurate DS but the cost delta is only 800 GBP for me and I do value the HDMI feature which the CP800 won't have so decided to stay with the DSM.

Ordered all the new toys, now need to wait for a new rack to show up --another 6 weeks :'( before I can actually hook things up. The Classe amp is a beast and there is no where to set it without getting the new rack first.

Till then the current B&W Nautilus 804 with the Majik DSM (and trolling the forums) will have tide me over...

[tomscrut]

So disabling the pre on the dsm doesn't disable the hdmi features?

[hcl]

(2012-08-17 08:28)rumnyc Wrote:  ...
I really need the HDMI features of Akurate DSM but I am able to turn off pre-amp and hookup to the CP800 via XLR and I can also dual connect using digital to bypass the ADSM and the Classe's DACs. The Classe has parametric EQ and bass management for digital inputs so should be fun to experiment.

Make sure to evaluate the difference between using the analogue (both adjustable and fixed) to the digital out (using DAC in the Classe) thoroughly. I am sure the Classe sounds just fine, but be observant on which combination that makes most sense musically (it may be an advantage to try to ignore any character differences and try to focus on the musical differences.) There will most sertainly be differences so check them out before you finalize the installation. After all most people use their equipment for listening to music and not just nice sounds.

The reason I write this is that I know of more than one person who have added external DAC:s to their equipment only to find that the new setup (close to) killed the music. The problem is that it might not be that obvious at first since the change to the sound (not the musical content) at first seem preferable. Some gear just sound nice, but with some flaws making the music more diffucult to hear. This might seem strange, but such flaws are very common, in fact the norm if you ask me.

[Rwjr44]

Too much complication. Besides if it sounds too good to be true....

[rumnyc]

After some time auditioning the classe combo with b&w speakers I concluded that I really lust after the 802diamonds. To stay within reason in terms of budget I will scale back on the pre/pro and pair the 802d2 with the adsm that I already ordered and a Mcintosh mc302 (30pc cheaper than the classe).