My old audio system has always been used to play my CDs, audio from TV (+ several consoles hooked up), cassettes, and some radio at times. In the past I had a larger midi-set, with the same abilities. It does have my actual decent speakers hooked up, for proper listening in my living room.
My old audio setup has never been able to support the many digital sources I have got nowadays. Any audio I had on my PC would play over my old computer speaker set. The pickup I purchased last year would play over its own monitor speakers directly. My mobile phone, I rarely use as a source at home, just when outdoors, or travelling.
I know there are all sorts of solutions nowadays, and actually not even all that expensive. I just never actually looked for a semi-proper solution to integrate all my devices, just juggled as I felt needed so far. Finally decided to have a look and came across a small amplifier I really liked the looks of. Checked the options to see if it could fit my needs and persuaded myself into a purchase after looking into some reviews.
I had considered the MC351 for a while, slightly more powerful/decent, but otherwise technically almost identical. Still a nice look, but no headphones jack, nor a remote. The cheaper version with the gimmicky (hot) tubes, has a rounder model, and feels even more retro, which I fell in love with in the first place.
Found AliExpress to be quite a lot cheaper, and ended up with a deal, pretty much half the price of the other, then still tempting model. That made it a simple choice and purchased the MC331 for €84,= (VAT included) and free (drop)shipping from Germany (Chinese seller). Ordered last Thursday evening, delivered earlier today (Monday).
Still using my old mini-tower through line-out, but speakers moved to the new device. Have to swap RCA tulips when switching to use TV instead. I can now however get any other source to play on it. For quite some time now I have a Bluetooth USB device on my PC, so that works flawless. Even my pickup can be hooked up directly (has Phono out and Line out (pre-amp), or through USB to PC (for recording), to then stream over BT to the new device. All I want to add, as it did not come included, is a USB cable to directly hook up my phone or other device as a source.
On PC I can now just run VLC to the new toy for some proper digital audio listening experience, while still having any other audio on PC through its own speaker set. Such a joy!
(sticker needs removing)
My old, ever shrinking setup … hehe. The other 4 speakers are not in view. I still like old school devices, just never owned anything decent, nor got into it in recent years, but who knows … For now, I am happy with what I got!
My computer setup, tower to the left of it, with my pickup on the shelve above my monitor. A place I am at way too often, but enjoying it as well.