Suggestions for an all in one integrated with source built in
I'm looking to upgrade an old setup that I've had for many years. It lives in a seldom used (by me) vacation home so doesn't see a lot of action. But when I do use it, I tend to immerse myself in it for days at a time. I will have more opportunities to get out there in the upcoming years so I want to upgrade what I have.
The current system was assembled over 10 years ago using an April Music Aura Note V2 and a set of Wharfedale Jade 3 monitors. It's a delightful system for the price, but technology has advanced and I think I can do better now. Also my budget is much larger than it was back then.
I have a perhaps irrational interest in sticking with an all in one setup like this. Not sure why that is. Maybe I can be talked out of it, but I would like to explore what else exists on the market before I consider abandoning this form factor. It looks like a lot more integrated amps have onboard DACs so maybe this is not the limitation it used to be.
I don't play a lot of CDs any longer so a good streaming solution must be involved. Any new device is likely to have this covered. Don't care if it has a display or not, but a remote is required, I don't like just using my phone for that.
The speakers will be replaced with another set of monitors as well. I intend to try out some of the usual suspects like B&W 805 D4, Focal Sopra and Kanta series, KEF Reference 1 Meta, maybe some Harbeth and Spendor too. Might try some more adventurous brands if I can get my hands on demo units easily. Bottom line, I won't be using anything extremely difficult to drive, nor anything ultra sensitive.
A few ideas I had include the NAD M33 v2, Hifi Rose RS520, and the Naim Uniti Nova. What else should I take a look at?
Simaudio is solid. Hegel as well. But I would talk you out of an all in one. If you had an integrated and a DAC-streamer or DAC and streamer, you would not be locked with the state of technology at a given time. Not to mention the flexibility for a good combination. Your speaker choices are no brainers and to be blunt, not very exciting. But that's very subjective so I won't spray the thread with random speaker brands. |
@fastfreight Budget is up in the air. The models I listed retail for around $7k (NAD), $4k (Hifi Rose), and $7k (Naim). That puts them right in line with the Gold Note and SimAudio Moon you mentioned. Of those I am intrigued by the Moon and will look into that further, always enjoyed their sound. I'm willing to go up higher, maybe $12k-15k if it brings enough tangible improvement over the models listed above. @parkergetdean Thank you, I always forget about Hegel due to their low key aesthetic. I've only ever heard their DACs but they have been excellent so I'll look into their offerings as well. My thinking on the all in one is that by the time technology marches on I can either add an outboard DAC/streamer (which is the portion much more likely to make improvements over say 5 years), or just swap out the whole device. I just like the simplicity of having it all in one machine. I realize the speakers mentioned are maybe predictable. Not saying I won't end up with something more off the beaten path. I am interested in Vivid, Perlisten, Joseph Audio, Borresen, Manger, and others. These are just more difficult to get ears on and see how they fit my room and preferences.
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Integrated amps have come a log way. Most are D Class so the footprint is smaller and switch power supplies are smaller becuase the Class D's amps run cooler. Ive just gone through this so I'll give you some suggestions : Pro-Ject DS3 integrated ( power supply in the cord) $1500.00 and Bluesound N132 NODE1500 + $700 NAD c700 v2 streamer and amp $2000.00 NAD M10 v3 $3000.00 For speakers Sonus Faber Lumina II stands and your choice of a sub. Used REL subs are easy to found but I went with a new SVS becuase it has room control. Both NAD's have Live Direc and can be a game changer. Cables Telluium Q used if you can find them.
Richard |
