You may also consider the Grimm MU2. Perhaps even a step up in any way. Being a streamer, dac, Roon Server plus preamp. With a better clock than the RS130. All in one Box. So, no cost for excess cabling and a les crowded rack.
It all depends on what par you want your system to be as an Endgame System.
My argumentation was based on what you already have.
Is the seperate way expensive? For sure
And beside the budget, you need to have the place for the additional devices, etc.
How much it will bring you forward soundwise, is related to the speakers you have in your setup.
For a dedicated home cinema, I would not suggest to go with that path.
the AVM 90 is also in my list, if Emotiva’s newest release will not be much better than the buggy current one.
I’m waiting for the trade program in order to have a XMC-2 +
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I don’t have the space for a dedicated stereo system.
As for the AVM 90, many audiophiles got rid of their Anthem STR stereo preamp after buying the Anthem AVM 90 - they said the AVM 90 is better than their STR for stereo music. One of these owners was Yonettes - he is 90% music 10% HT. I really respect Yonettes opinion/recommendations.
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I’m in a complete other world that an Anthem.
But as I said, this is something the user must decide for themselve.
I would never change my Soulution Audio Integrated AMP, but I will still have the need of a HT processor.
You can use a device like this to achieve Home Theater Bypass without the need of replacing your AVM.
I have the AVM90 and the 130/160 combo. I’m a little confused about the way you are planning to connect them. I also have the RA180 rose amp and my 160 connects to it via XLR. Therefore, for stereo listening via the 130 I don’t even need to power on the AVM90. The 130 & 160 are connected via SFP+ optical connection. (It sounds marginally better than the same cable with copper DAC (Direct Attach copper)) and way better than i2S via a borrowed expensive HDMI.
For movies or multichannel music via Apple TV I use the home theater bypass. So L&R are powered by 180 and the rest via MCA525.
For movies and multi channel music via Apple TV, do you think that it is possible somehow to insert RD160 and RA180 into the play for the front two channels? Since RD160 is a better DAC than AVM 90.
I would not think so as AVM90 does not have two channels digital output to connect to RD160.
Any ideas?
I plan to connect as follows (give me feedback as to pros & cons):
Internet coax → Modem → Router, Router SFP → 1st Network Ethernet Switch’s SFP #1 (switch has 2 SFP Ports), switch’s SFP #2 → 2d Audiophile Network Ethernet Switch’s SFP #1 (switch has 2 SFP Ports), switch’s SFP #2 → RS130’s Ethernet SFP
Mobile HDDs → RSA720 RJ45 ports, RSA720 USB 3.0 → RS130 USB 3.0
RS130 USB SFP → RD160 DAC’s USB SFP, RD160 RCA → AVM 90’s RCA, AVM 90 Virtual Input 2.0 / 2.2, AVM 90’s XLRs → MacIntosh MC255 Zone A Power Amp → FL & FR Speakers
Note: The MacIntosh MC255 power amp has two zones (Zone A enables only FL & FR speakers; Zone B enables all 5 channels: FL, C, FR, SL, SR; note: a Zone is a power trigger input).
BTW, My four height speakers are connected to the Anthem MCA 525 power amp. I control the two power amps via AVM 90’s three power triggers and a Universal Aurora Remote.
BTW, My NAS has two aggregated Cat6a RJ45 ports to the Router’s two aggregated RJ45 inputs.
BTW, I have not yet selected the two network switches - I’ve not yet decided whether I’ll buy two or one network switch. AFAIK (read), two network switches improves the sound quality (I’ll try to get the 1st Network Switch on trial); the 2d Network Switch will most probably be Sotm or Melco 10/2.
Thus, 5.2 cinema is via AVM 90 & MacIntosh MC255 Zone B power amp and 5.2.4 is via AVM 90, MacIntosh MC255 Zone B & Anthem MCA 525 power amps.
Stereo is via RS130, RSA720, RD160 DAC, AVM 90 & MacIntosh MC255 Zone A.
What is your HT System & Stereo System connections? Do you use the same FL & FR for both HT & Audio Stereo like I do? I’m confused: How do you connect the same FL & FR speakers to both the AVM 90 and the RA180?
I do not have the space for separate FL / FR speakers.
Also, how does HT Bypass work between the RA180 & AVM 90 - AVM 90 does not support HT Bypass - please explain how this works.
The RA180 can definitely be inserted into the flow between the Apple TV and AVM 90. I know because I’m doing it. There are 2 RCA’s connecting the AVM90 to the. “Line 3” input on the 180. There are XLR’s from RD160 to the 180 and when I switch the input to balanced I get the sound from the 130 via SFP.
The line 3 is specifically dedicated to home theater bypass via software and a physical switch. Therefore the 160 is not in the loop. You could connect the Apple TV to a separate input in the 160 but I imagine it would be pointless as even if it worked you would surely lose the video signal.
To get it to work you’d need an HDMI splitter to split out the audio. However…
I did test changing the audio settings in the Apple TV to output to the 130 over airplay 2. It works! 130 sends to 160 and then outputs normally. However the 160 receives pcm 48khz. Playing the same track from the Apple Music app on the 130 delivers pcm 96. Both can be upsampled as needed.
FL and FR are only connected to RA180. RA180 has pre out coming from the AVM90 via RCA. So FL and FR are always powered by RA180 regardless of source. On the 180 I choose Line 3 or balance output
So far, my understanding of your posts, you have the following configuration (right?):
I don’t understand the roll of the HDMI Splitter. And I still do not understand
- how internet & NAS streaming is connected
- do you connect network switches? if so, detail the connection flow
- how the RS130 & RD160 are connected to the RA180
- source device audio & video connections for 5.1 movies
- the HT Bypass interactions
So far, I think your system configuration is:
Apple TV ?port? → RS130 ?port?
Source Devices for HT HDMI → AVM 90 HDMI
AVM 90 RCA → RA180 RCA, RA180 line 3 → FL & FR speakers
AVM 90 RCA/XLRs (C, SL, SR) → Anthem MCA 525 → C, SL & SR speakers
How is internet, RS130, RS160 & Other Source Devices connected within your system? Also can you elaborate what the RA180 does regarding HT Bypass (e.g., which port is HT Bypass set for and when HT Bypass is activated what are the RA180 to AVM 90 interactions?).
To help me better understand your system configuration, please provide a detail flow chain from Internet/Source Device → …sysrem components… → speakers
Ok, let me try my best…,
HDMI Splitter - picture attached. I haven’t used, so you too can google.
Connecting NAS & network switches - I don’t use a NAS, my music is stored on a Mac running Roon. I have a WIFI 6 router with 5 satellites around the house. The Mac, 130 & AVM 90 are all hard wired to the satellites. If you can run a cable to a network switch it will be better. Using SFP+ optical is best. I’m not yet a believer that the network switch etc makes a significant impact on sound. I have used relatively expensive cables and power conditioners.
130 & 160 connections. 130 connects to 160 via SFP. 130 to AVM 90 VIA HDMI. 160 to 170 via balanced XLR.
All AV components go direct to the AVM 90. Including Apple TV, Cable TV, Internet TV box. All via HDMI. Apple TV is not connected to 130 so it uses AVM90 config.
RA180 connects to speakers directly. It outputs to the speakers depending on the input selected. Balanced sends output from the 160 via XLR to FL&FR for 130 stereo source. For 5.1 (eg Apple TV) with HT Bypass on 180, Line 3 sends FL&FR - source is RCA from AVM pre out. For remaining 3 channels, AVM90 connects to MCA525 via XLR. 2 subwoofers connected to AVM90 via RCA.
Make sense?
I think your systen connection flow is: (please confirm)
RS130 USB SFP → RD160 DAC USB SFP, RD160 XLR → RA180 XLR, RA180 → FL, FR
RS130 HDMI → AVM 90 HDMI → …
- HDMI Video portion → TV HDMI
- HDMI Audio portion RCA preouts → RA180 RCA line 3, RA180 → FL, FR
AV Source Devices → AVM 90 HDMI → …
- HDMI Video portion → TV HDMI
- HDMI Audio portion → …
- AVM 90 channel 1, 2 RCA preouts → RA180 RCA line 3, RA180 → FL, FR
- AVM 90 channel 3, 4, 5 XLR preouts → MCA 525 XLRs, MCA 525 → C, SL, SR
- AVM 90 LFE/Bass Audio RCA → Subwoofers’ RCA
Re above, HT Bypass is on RA180’s RCA line 3 input (HT Bypass tells RA180 that anything received on RCA Line 3 is to be passthrough to FL, FR speakers, right?
160 to 170 via balanced XLR.
I think “170” is a typo, it should be 180 (right?)
You are correct on all points (including the typo) 
For the 130->160->180 the “balanced” output is selected.
Because of the AVM90’s endless input configuration options you can pair video from any source to audio from any other source. I can listen to music from 130 but video could be a tv channel or an Apple TV app cycling through landscapes.
You can also use the AVM90 DAC via digital coax or optical from the 130 and include room correction and even subs giving you a digital 2.2 system. The possibilities are endless….
The 180 has a sub output but it doesn’t appear to work - last time I tried it was sending full range signal to the Sub….which is not ideal.
Hope I’ve helped answer your question!
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Thanks for the confirmation. It has helped me better understand HT Bypass and has helped me reconsider system configuration possibilities.
BTW, Please elaborate the RS130 to RD160 AKM-DAC sound in comparison to the RS130 to AVM 90 ESS-DAC sound?
Also, have you compared RS130 stereo sound via AVM 90’s RCA (with ADC 2.2 & ARC) vs Digital Coax (2.2 & ARC). What’s the difference and which is the better sound.
I’ll take the second one first. There is minimal difference between the two, with the RCA perhaps having a slight edge. Org are crisp and clear but tiring to listen to for longer periods.
Sound via RD160 DAC vs AVM90 DAC is the most noticeable difference in favour of the 160. Specifically vocals are clearer, more centered in the sound stage. The 160 does have sampling and filters which you can adjust to your liking. Eg converting pcm 96 to DSD or even upsampling
Sort of got lost with all the paths posted here, but does the AVM90 work like the AVM70 that I have in where any analog will be converted to digital, therefore killing any advantage of the 160?
I use a JL Audio CR-1 to make two paths using same 2.1 setup for movies and music. AVM70 goes through bypass on ARC Preamp, then bypass on CR-1 so the AVM70 controls everything at that point. Switch both off bypass and now my RS130 → PSAudio DAC → Arc Pre → CR-1 set to 33hz lowpass.
Two completely independent systems using 2.1.
AVM 90 has a “Convert Analog yes/no” function
- “no” means to passthrough the analog signal without any processing (ie, no crossover and no room correction)
- “yes” means Analog signal → ADC (using 32-bit 786kHz sampling which means no loss of sound quality) → DAC with crossover & room correction
