Ultra to Topping V70 Velvet to....

[RAAM]

Current setup plans, other recommendations welcome

Qobuz to Ultra (TV and BD player as well to Ultra as well as Ultra to Martin Logan sound bar)
Ultra fed by quality router via Ethernet cable (also TV to control song selection if it works, audio only through Ultra
USB out of Ultra to Topping V70 Velvet DAC via balanced cables
DAC out to Fosi ZA3 via balanced cables, upgraded op amps and 48V PS as temp setup to speakers
RCA out to sub amp(s) or powered subs

Amp(s) I might end up with dual mono ZA3 or build a custom higher end D class amp(s) for the mains, D class on subs as well and might be DIY.
Various speaker designs will be DIY built and tested to find the best solution in our full time RV, OB, SLOB, sealed, ported, etc...
Subs DIY, I have some great older Image Dynamics 15" drivers from my last home system I can build into the RV.
All cables DIY, great quality, low cost.
Room treatments as I can fit, look good, work the best I can make them.

Life long DIY with decades experience building very fine systems including car audio competition to extreme high quality levels. I know I can do something dang fine and not spend a lot of money on it as all but two systems I have done were so, only those two I went a bit nuts on in car audio.

Let me know what you think, ideas, recommendations, etc, please

Thanks,
Rick

 

[RAAM]

I also have a beloved, highly modded, little tube amp I will give a listen to. Baby Sophia, 10 watt push pull, a very nice amp but I want to save as much energy as possible and reduce cooling cost though we use little now since converted to ducted Evap cooling, great to live where it works, $40 a month summer energy bill.


I have a much loved pair of Edgarhorn Slimlines, highly modded, in storage I would love to use, might not even test them here as a bit to big and need to be back away from them a bit more than we can do in the RV. Superb speakers, super efficient and got very loud but crystal clear and dynamic like only horns can do on the 10 watt tube amp. The late Dr Edgar was my friend, one of the nicest people I have or will ever of met.

 

[RAAM]

Just sold Pro Plus and ordered an Ultra

 

[BowsAndArrows]

Nice! Fair play on the whole DIY thing. Sounds like a lot of fun...

That is a pretty cool setup. And you've nailed the use case for the ultra. How far along are you as far as getting the pieces together?!

Just curious if you've compared the DACs in the setup? Which one sounded best?!

 

[RAAM]

THANKS

Audio is taking some time, hopefully have some thing nice setup by this fall, a huge amount of work left to get there just to have the space ready for it. Right now I am trippling the wall insulation with foil covered high grade foam and taping all seams then covering with engineered european oak flooring, on the walls and ceiling. I just finished the LED puck lights in the ceiling, will have 40 of them throughout the RV on area dimmers.

I have not compared the Ultra DAC to V70, just ordered the Ultra today so not here yet but I am quite sure I will pick the V70 by quite a margin as I prefer AKM over ESS DAC chips and this is a higher grade one that comes in the Ultra.

DIY speakers being looked into, I really like the G-Research NX-Studio with walnut front baffles for how they look, how they sound and how they would integrate into our space, from looking at all pictures and videos I could find, reviews and emails with Danny at GR-R. I could design my own but would not save any money if I use comparable components and he knows how to do it right I can easily tell since I started building my own close to 60 years ago.

Rick

 

[RAAM]

I have to admit I like tube amps better than SS or D though there are some dang fine and great priced amps in those classes.
I have decided on a few changes, experiments, etc...

My ideal of a great system for low cost:

WIIM Ultra, streaming Qobuz $279 on sale recently.
Topping V70 Velvet DAC $299 lightly used (I will test directly with the Ultra DAC to see what I like the best)
Baby Sophia 10 watt tube amp with upgrades, bought used for $600
Frugel-Horn Jain DIY speakers with Mark Audio MA200 drivers, full range, no crossovers needed $400
DIY Conare cables, less than $100
Room treatments, less than $100 DIY (full time RV so not going to be as good as I can do in good home layout but decent)

Total $1778 or $1479 if do not use Topping DAC

The tube amp is not very efficient so looking into DIY from kit, etc, tube front end D class amp, would be less than I can sell the Baby Sophia for, if I can work out a setup that I am happy with.

I will build other speakers over time to see what I can work out to be the best in our RV so could end up spending as much as $1k or more on DIY ones but hope I am satisfied with the Frugel-Horn speakers.

All that said, spending a lot more money than this would not really gain much at all above a very fine sounding and easy to listen to for long periods without hearing fatigue.

Rick