[greggstone]

I am new here and introducing myself.  I am nearing retirement and dusting off my vintage equipment and learning how to upgrade it to today's technology with DACs and optical cables and bluetooth receivers and things that did not exist the last time I turned it on.  I was an enthusiast in my younger days and bought my Nakamichi Receiver one and Klipsch KG-5.2 at Hillcrest High Fidelity in Dallas back in the day.  I am anxious to explore this forum and see what I can learn from all you experts!

Thanks

[S Clark]

Wow.  Hillcrest Hi fi... dealer for all the gear I couldn't afford!.  I grew up in Dallas, now in Abilene.  Welcome to AC! 

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome to AC 
To take advantage of use a inexpensive small tube amp or a small Solid State amp you would keep on using Klipsch high sensitivity speakers or hi efficiency Full Range speakers as Li Audio or similar.

However dont walk, run from optical cables and bluetooth, for CD Transport/DAC connection prefer coaxial cable for better sound.

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC greggstone   

[Phil A]

Welcome!

[greggstone]

Please forgive this newbie, likely obvious question but I do not know where to post it.

I am new to the digital age of Dacs and preamps et al.

I am trying to understand the electronics "chain" order, if there is such a thing.

What I mean is............   source(s)  to dac to preamp to amp to speakers?  Or is it source(s) to preamp to DAC to amp to speakers......or am I missing it altogether?

Could someone please enlighten me to the proper "chain" of equipment for a desktop office environment and also a living room vintage 2-channel amp, CD player, Smart TV, possible bluetooth environment?

Thanks very much and please tell me where I should be posting questions like this if not here???

I am really enjoying the Audio Circle resource and thank all of you for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

gas
Dallas, TX

[Phil A]

It depends on whether you are talking analog or digital sources

[Phil A]

For example if you have a PC connected to the DAC via USB, the DAC will then go out to the preamp (or if the DAC has volume control then it can go straight out to an amp).  If you have a turntable connected to a phono input on a preamp it doesn't go into the DAC.  Similarly, you can connect an analog FM tuner to the preamp or another analog source (e.g. CD player) to the preamp.  Note that some CD players have digital outputs and you also can connect it that way to the DAC first.

[JLM]

Digital source to DAC to preamp to power amp to loudspeakers.

Desktop setups need to be compact so some of those components could be combined.

Vintage environment in my way of thinking wouldn't have bluetooth or a smart TV.  But your preamp/integrated amp/receiver would need to have the necessary connections and give a clue as to how everything connects (sources to preamp/integrated amp/receiver).

[rockadanny]

My desktop system is very simple and sounds great: laptop headphone jack output -> pair of active speakers (amps are inside of speakers, so each speaker plugs into 120v outlet).
I bought proper cable (laptop split out to speakers) from https://www.takefiveaudio.com/.
My speakers are Adam F7, but others make actives as well.

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome to AC.  I will say the same:
Source/DAC /Preamp /Power amp /Speakers

[SlushPuppy]

My uncle's name is Greg Stone. Cool! Welcome aboard!