Appreciate your suggestions. Yeah, it’s really going so far on searching…
I’m in the UK and I’ve never heard of Rogue.
I’m with @Rudolf_Appel in preferring to buy locally made products, not for being a far right nationalist (which I’m not), just that it avoids potential service issues.
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I’m seriously considering Schiit Freya + and PSA S300 now.
The recommendation to full range speaker is very useful.
For the speakers, are the floorstanding speakers too much for an apartment?
Does full range mean that it has to be floorstanding?
If you wish floor standers for an apartment that are somewhat value oriented I suggest the Wharfdale Evo 4.3 speakers. The Evo 4.4 offer additional bass which can be problematic in an apartment. YMMV.
I still stand by the ATC SCM series for a smaller foot print stand mounted speaker. They sound exceptional, and down the road you can add a sub-woofer as your dwelling situation changes. The Wharfdale Evo 4.3’s are basically a one and done. I heard the 4.4 Evo with a Hegel integrated amp, H95 IIRC, at the 2019 RMAF and that they sounded great for the price range. The 4.3 will be similar with slightly less bass and should be easier to position in a room.
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I’m thinking if floorstanding speakers are too much. Saying, I have to keep it low so that it may not annoy my neighbors. So are the floorstanding speakers kind of waste in my case?
The Harbeth M40.2 is a stunning full range standmount speaker. You’d have to sell your apartment first.
For an apartment a subwoofer can be more practical and cheaper. You can reduce the volume, insulate it separately, important as they can send a lot of energy through the floor. Mine sits on acoustic foam, costs a few cents.
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I lived with (and will never get rid of) smaller 2-way speakers (on stands) plus a subwoofer for 30 years. 2-way speakers can sound very clean and uncolored compared to floor standing speakers and can have wonderful imaging. Their downside is that the upper bass can sound too lightweight. Full-range speakers (and using this term VERY loosely, as many of us need a subwoofer in order to be truly full range) have a benefit of a stronger upper bass compared to 2-way speakers, giving instruments like trumpets and violins, for instance, a little more weight to them so they can sound more realistic.
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It all depends on how loud you will play music versus 2-way or 3-way speakers.
I use Blue Jeans Twelve White cables at 3 foot length. I listen to these at my desk (home work for covid) so it’s a near-field setup. They were originally my mains though and did fabulous service (replaced by the Wharf 4.2’s). the ML motion series is a very over-looked speaker and the 35XT is a very serious performer.
Most of the audiophile amps are 2 channel stereo outputs. How do we add additional subwoofer into the system?
Skip the amp entirely and go active speakers. Buchardt Audio A500 for instance. Yes, it has a DAC but if you get the hub you can have room correction! + it’s on sale now + you can try it / return it for EUR 50.
My son has them connected to Naim integrated using AQ Rocket 33. Great sound!
You would purchase a compatible subwoofer, or a pair depending on your situation and preferences. One way to connect them, recommended, is to run parallel speaker wires from the amp to the subs.
I’d suggest focusing on speakers that fit your near term goals first. Then select an integrated amp that partners well with the speakers. Once the first two are in place done the need for subwoofers is more apparent. At some point you will need to get out and do some auditioning at a dealer, or via direct mail with a liberal return policy.
With PS Audio’s BHK Preamp, I have the balanced outputs going to the amps and the rca outputs going to the subs. When I connect my older Conrad Johnson tube pre and tube poweramps in the system, I use only rca connectors (no balanced xlr connections) and use rca y-splitters after the preamp. I would check with Schiit if their preamp can output both balanced and rca at the same time.
The other way to connect a sub, is thru the speaker outputs from the amplifier, but only certain subs allow for this type of connection.
I owned the S300 for several years. It’s just “ok”. When I auditioned Hegel H90, the S300 was soon out the door. The S300 was resoundingly outclassed. And if you want to go tubes, Rogue Audio has a long running excellent tube pedigree. Schiit does not.
I too considered simply adding the Freya to my S300. But concluded the Freya would not overcome the S300’s class D limitations.
Good to know this!
I would suggest the Hegel H90/H95 as well, but my understanding is it does not provide for XLR inputs. Thus the S300 Stellar Strata recommendation. Hegel’s strength lies in their direct digital input, analog not so much.
I’ll be interested to hear the replies on this one
That is correct, no XLR. I utilized expensive XLR with the S300 and DSJ. Have been using Duelund RCA with the Hegel. Haven’t noticed a meaningful difference to my ears. The Hegel’s superior amp eclipsed any potential XLR advantage.