One box do it all


Enough of separates. Too many boxes, too many cables, don't care for those anymore.

I am willing to get a simple box that will do for me:
- AMP driving Dynaudio special forty, at least 100W
- Pre Amp for digital and analog
- Needs to have phono input as I still do some 20% listening on those, possibly MC but can live with MM
- Streaming, has to be Roon Ready as most of the time I do Roon or Roon on top of Qobuz
- Budget 2500, can't really stretch it much more than that

Seems like Cambridge EVO 150 and Arcam SA30 fit the bill but I will not get a chance to listen to those comparatively and the reviews (the "honest" ones that I could find) are kind of OKish but several complaints on Arcam stability and not so convincing on Cambridge SQ. NAD C388 also come to mind but doesn't seem to have much of a reputation

Anyone here has had personal experience with those ?

Any alternative that I should consider ?

Thanks a lot for reading so far,

Mark.
marklings

Showing 2 responses by mofojo

The 2170 made a pair of Cerwin Vega DX9 sound high end with the room correction engaged. They are awesome anyway BTW if you like you rock loud and punchy and clean “ish” Even then needed more power.  I think the amplification section is ok but nothing special. It’s was all about the Room Perfect for me. 
@OP

“only rate power over 4 Ohms (why on earth ???) at 170W. to compare apples with apples what would that rate on 8 Ohms ? 85 ? 100 ? In any case being high current it should be able to drive my Special Forty, shouldn’t it ? Any advice here ?”

I had the 2170 and it was GREAT with several speakers. Ran out of gas on some Dynaudio Contour 20s. Ymmv.