[enal]

I've got a 20x 30 ft game room with pool table, air hockey wet bar etc... 

I've got the ceiling speakers done(6 Polk RC85i's)...Two of the Class D Audio CDS 1000 kits that I have not yet setup and am open to final setup suggestions.

Next I need subs and some sort of preamp and DAC.  I'm going to be running it from a server so I'm open to any suggestions on these, but I'm not trying to turn this into a premium listening room because there will be lots of loud noise and won't be  the best acoustics.  Mainly saying I'm not looking for $1000+ Preamps & DAC and certainly not afraid of DIY setups and actually like that road.

Any suggestions are welcomed. 

[WC]

So you want to run 6 channels off this preamp? If so, you could try an AV receiver. Some of them are 7 channel units. They would give you a built in DAC which would make it easy to connect your choice of streamer box. Many have preamp outputs and have multichannel stereo modes. On the used market, older high quality AVRs or pre-pros are available for less than $500, some much less. Should be decent enough for backround music in the room.

[srb]

Because this is not a Home Theatre seating arrangement, and the listeners would be roaming around, gaming, drinking, socializing, etc., my impression was that the format would be 2 channel stereo, with three pairs of stereo speakers distributed throught the room, and that 6 of the 8 available amp channels from the two CDA1000 kits would be used for the six speakers rather than trying to series/parallel them together?

If that's the case, a stereo preamp and DAC or preamp/DAC could be used with a three-way RCA connector off of the preamp outputs to feed the power amps.  Would the preamp only need one input, and what format and physical digital output type would be coming from the server?

Steve

[MaxCast]

Does game room involve video games.  If so, then I recommend the HT receiver (with hdmi and secondary main outs) depending on the layout of the room.

[WC]

Because this is not a Home Theatre seating arrangement, and the listeners would be roaming around, gaming, drinking, socializing, etc., my impression was that the format would be 2 channel stereo, with three pairs of stereo speakers distributed throught the room, and that 6 of the 8 available amp channels from the two CDA1000 kits would be used for the six speakers rather than trying to series/parallel them together?

If that's the case, a stereo preamp and DAC or preamp/DAC could be used with a three-way RCA connector off of the preamp outputs to feed the power amps.  Would the preamp only need one input, and what format and physical digital output type would be coming from the server?

Steve

That is what I figured also, but the AVRs have modes with multichannel stereo where a 2 channel stereo signal is sent to all the speakers. The speakers don't need to be set up in a HT arrangement. Bass management for subs would also be able to be incorporated. A stereo preamp could be used, but there could be issues splitting the signal amongst all the amps and subwoofers. AVR or Pre-pro would be simpler.

[enal]

Because this is not a Home Theatre seating arrangement, and the listeners would be roaming around, gaming, drinking, socializing, etc., my impression was that the format would be 2 channel stereo, with three pairs of stereo speakers distributed throught the room, and that 6 of the 8 available amp channels from the two CDA1000 kits would be used for the six speakers rather than trying to series/parallel them together?

If that's the case, a stereo preamp and DAC or preamp/DAC could be used with a three-way RCA connector off of the preamp outputs to feed the power amps.  Would the preamp only need one input, and what format and physical digital output type would be coming from the server?

Steve

Yes this is the setup that I was thinking about...I'll only have the need for one input like you mentioned.  I've yet to decide on the format and digital output either so suggestions there are welcomed.

As for the subwoofer setup would that just be best to setup in a seperate powered arrangement?

I've considered the AVR as suggested and found some really good deals on some high end refurbs.  It may even come to the point that I take the ClassDAudio amps and incorporate that into my HT setup to use if for what it was developed.

Thanks Everyone....Keep it coming!

[srb]

AVRs and PrePros have different available sound modes depending on the model and brand.  I don't know if any have such a thing as "6 Channel Stereo".

For example, my Rotel has "5 channel stereo" which gives equal volume stereo on the Front L/R pair and the Rear L/R pair, with a mono mix for the center channel, but nothing for a 6th channel/speaker.

However, my 6 channel modes such as Dolby and DTS Neo 6 are not as suitable as they try to simulate a surround sound with more of an ambience or reverberative sound for the rear channels.

I know some of the 7.1/9.1 channel receivers let you assign two of the amp channels as fronts for biamping, which in a 5 channel stereo mode could give identical stereo feeds to the two (biamped) front pairs and the rear pair for your six speakers without having to invoke any of the less desireable simulated surround modes.

As far as digital connection from the server, if you have both coaxial and optical S/PDIF available, I would probably use coaxial up to around 15ft. and optical for greater distances.

Steve

[WC]

Anthem has a 6 channel stereo mode on their AVRs, basically ignores the center channel. My Marantz AVR is a 7 channel unit and has a multi-channel stereo mode which becomes a 6 channel stereo if I do not hook up a center channel. 

[TRADERXFAN]

If you don't mount the speakers for 2 channel, I don't understand why going to much trouble and expense with DACs and preamps. For overhead ceiling mount seems like a receiver would be more than adequate for that application. I recommend a pioneer like SC-37, I have one and think it is great and I think it could do what you want on your file playback.

I tested it out on my main rig and it held up pretty well in comparison to my external dac when fed by ART  Legato from Mac mini.

I picked up one refurb for 800 a couple months ago, it was like new.


-Tony