iMac with Shindo

[bachrocks]

I am toying with the idea of buying and using the Shindo Apetite integrated amp with my wife's iMac. She deserves the most beautiful sound I can provide, and I am sur she would fall in love with the look of the Apetite.

My question is are ther a pair of hi-end desktop speakers (500-1000 US dollars)that are small and sound great with Shindo gear? Also, I wonder what DAC (500-1000)would be small, sound great, and match this proposed system?

Thank you,
Ron

[Cucumber_Jones]

There are some tannoy desktops - not sure of the price though.

[bart1]

Seems an odd combo to pair a $7k amp with a computer and $500 speakers. Dynaudio has some active desktop speakers that should be very good. I think KEF has some passive ones in that range that may work well. Also me be a good idea to look at full range speakers if you do go your intended route - Omega, maybe?

[junker]

In January, you could get a Light Harmonic Geek in Shindo Green...

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by bachrocks

I am toying with the idea of buying and using the Shindo Apetite integrated amp with my wife's iMac. She deserves the most beautiful sound I can provide, and I am sur she would fall in love with the look of the Apetite.

My question is are ther a pair of hi-end desktop speakers (500-1000 US dollars)that are small and sound great with Shindo gear? Also, I wonder what DAC (500-1000)would be small, sound great, and match this proposed system?

Thank you,
Ron

Get a used pair of Dynaudio Focus 140s for the desktop speakers or the PSB LR1s. For the DAC, you should get a Schiit Bifrost Asynchronous USB DAC for $449. It absolutely slaughters anything under the $1000-$1200 price tag.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by bart1

Seems an odd combo to pair a $7k amp with a computer and $500 speakers. Dynaudio has some active desktop speakers that should be very good. I think KEF has some passive ones in that range that may work well. Also me be a good idea to look at full range speakers if you do go your intended route - Omega, maybe?

Good advice, Bart. I recommended a used pair of Dynaudio Focus 140s...or the powered 110As would work well, also.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Get a used pair of Dynaudio Focus 140s for the desktop speakers or the PSB LR1s. For the DAC, you should get a Schiit Bifrost Asynchronous USB DAC for $449. It absolutely slaughters anything under the $1000-$1200 price tag.

Do not agree with the Schiit statement.
It is a good dac but for 1k, the Metrum Octave is much better imho.
Plus I had the Bifrost with the Apetite. Way too much gain.

[Jerome W]

The Apetite is not an easy amp to pair with both sources and speakers. If your budget for those is limited, you should look for an other amp imho.

[bachrocks]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Let me explain more about my idea. My wife is a cancer survivor. She is not an audiophile but she definitely has good ears and appreciates great sound; it's just she does not want to go to any trouble to get this great sound. I would like to treat her to a great system.

My wife listens to music through her ipad or the computer. She does not play our McIntosh stereo. Also, she is particular about looks and the Shindo Apetite is one component that I know she would really like, and when I showed her the picture, she agreed. Of course, simply to play music, there are many options that are a lot cheaper, but I really want to give my wife something special.

About the speakers, the budget is not the priority: the size is. And as long as my wife loves the sound, I could care less whether th speakers cost 50 dollars or 5000 dollars (well, I do care a little). We don't have room for speakers except on the desk (I'm still searching for an appropriate one).

Same with the DAC. What's critical is that it is small and unobtrusive. Of course, it should sound great.

I don't want to spend a fortune, only enough to meet my criteria: looks beautiful, small, and sounds great.

Thank you again for your efforts on our behalf
Ron

[junker]

I'm going to say something heretical...

But I'd suggest just starting off with running a Mini->RCA cable directly from the Mac to the Shindo. The reason I say this is that this is what I'm currently using until my green Geek is ready in Janurary. Currently using an Oyaide cable:



On the speaker side you could try the KEF LS50s. In the US there is a satisfaction guaranty where you could return if they didn't integrate properly. They are not the typical hyper-efficient, high-impedance Shindo speakers but then again this is for a near field desk environment. There is no way you will be playing them loudly, and the lower sensitivity will prevent noise from being an issue. Maybe worth a try...