Suggestion for DAC and Amp solution for music streaming

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ajscheid

AVForums Member
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Joined
Jul 29, 2018
Messages
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Location
Durban North
Hi there,

I am looking to get into a better music experience than I have now.

My current setup is as follows:

All my music is stored on an Unraid server in my garage on the second floor (sloping property if you wonder). From here it is distributed to various rooms via the wifi network and connected airport express. To realise this I installed daapd on the server to emulate an itunes library. The music distribution to the different airport express is done by using the remote app on iOS. This works very well so far. While I am ok with the sound in the kitchen and the main bedroom I would like to upgrade the sound experience in the living room.

There I am running currently the Harman Kardon Soundsticks connected to the audio out of the airport express. This setup just doesn't cut it anymore; this is lofi at best, most probably nofi... :sulky:. Especially taking into account that the room is around 60 sqm in size.

My idea is to get a decent pair of bookshelf speakers and pair them to an amp and a dac. I've read that the analog out as well as the dac of the first generation airport express is not very good.
Furter on I don't want to loose the way I control the distribution as it is so handy to have the remote control in your pocket at all times (iphone).

I've seen the review form Wietsche about the Allo Katana and had a look at their web site. But now I am a bit overwhelmed with the different products they offer and which one I would need to upgrade my listening experience.

Now my questions:
Allo offers the Volt+ with stepped attenuator https://www.allo.com/sparky/volt-plus-stepped-attenuator.html. I really like the look and it seems to generate decent sound. Which kind of bookshelf speaker would suitable for this little amp?

Alllo has the BOSS 1.2 Player https://www.allo.com/sparky/boss-player.html. It seems all of their player products support airplay via the raspberry pi. Does this mean I will be able to control my library the same way I've learnt to love, via the iOS remote app?

I don't know if I get this all right; I would stream my files from my unraid server via wifi to the Boss Player (bypassing the crappy airport express). The Boss player or rather the Pi part is airplay enabled so I can control the stream from my iPhone. The Boss is then connected via RCA to the Volt+ to which some nice bookshelf speaker are connected?!?

Will this setup work? Would it be better to choose the katana and why?

As you can see; I am overwhelmed and also a bit confused. Sorry if this is a bit difficult to read; it just reflects my confusion.

I am looking forward to your replies and maybe Wietsche and Allo can contribute to clear my confusion.

Thank you so much for this outstanding community! :thumbs:

Cheers from Durban,

Antonius
 
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