it sounds better with the low level button pushed, but i'll point out that my source is currently a dvd player that is probably sending the signal out very loud. i would like to turn down the input, actually. that will be less of an issue when the in is the chromebook, as i can and will turn down the input.
do make say think's country hymn is a challenging record to reproduce and it's doing ok, even with the likely driven input (shouldn't a dvd not do that? maybe that's exactly it, that the device is designed that way by flaw). this is likely more than i will need this amp to do. i think this will work fine.
so, the kitchen system is going to be:
- nad 3020e in low level mode
- yamaha ns-e55 (these are 6 ohm, 50 watt)
- expired lenovo chromebook running in guest mode for digital audio (via usb) or streaming media (audio and video) from bandcamp or youtube. i am able to put a hard drive in this device but it does not currently use one by design and preference. this is primarily for watching the news or documentaries when eating, in the kitchen. through the tuner or tape in.
- it's currently a sony dvp ns-325 as optical drive source and will likely stay that way. this plays dvds, cds and mp3 cds (cds with mp3s). through cd/aux.
- there's a boxed widescreen monitor connected to this system.
- there is also phono input on the amp, and will be an extra tuner or tape in that will probably not be immediately used.
i could send a dvd video out to the monitor in theory, but i have had minimal interest in buying video dvds or bds and only have a few scattered burns. that is likely all i will need in the kitchen.
the bedroom system will be:
- yamaha cr-320
- celestion ditton 110s as primary
- to be purchased 30-50 watt secondary speakers
- cd audio from a jvc 5-disc changer from the 90s, cd only. no mp3 cds.
- i am looking at getting a recent blu-ray player with a usb in that plays flac natively and has an rca out. this will be for digital audio over usb and also for any optical media with dvd, bd, mp3, wav or flac. it should be under $100, as bd is being phased out due to netflix.
- i have a record player and two cassette decks for potential use. it might make more sense to put the record player in here.
- i am not currently intending to watch video in the bedroom, but that might change.
- this device only has four ins - cd/aux, tape 1, tape 2, phono. so, i could not use all five ins and the phono is not usable for anything else. it is not likely that i will set up a cassette deck in here.
the typing pc (the main bedroom pc) does not currently have a soundcard out to connect to an audio system, but does have a legacy altec-lansing system connected to the integrated sound out (1/8th inch computer jack). this system is very annoying, because you can't turn the subwoofer off, but the satellites actually sound quite good, for what they are. it was intended for gaming, not audio. it was purchased with my 90s pc and intended to be for music production, but my dad got badly upsold on that one. as mentioned, the system would be good for gaming, but i don't game, and that's not what it was meant for. i have barely been able to use it at all. i will have this connected on the computer table, but it's just intended for the computer, not for audio.
if i connect a video source to the cr-320, it will be from a laptop and not from the typing machine, which is intentionally kept isolated as a glorified typewriter.