@elliottbnewcombjr I remember Tonian Labs from many years ago, did not know they were still around. Never heard them myself but their older small monitors were highly regarded.
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?
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I didn’t stay around, ask any questions, evidently Tony is a recording engineer, he as selling CD’s there https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/music-reviews/tonian-labs/ I called him, asked about the Technics unit, and told him, the speakers sounded excellent, but I would ask him to stain/finish the edges of the baltic plywood at the machined edges, I didn’t like the unfinished edges/cutouts |
a member here has the early version of the stand mounts, the current model has a 2nd tweeter, mounted on the top, it can be seen in the video I linked above, it's a driver, not a port https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11127 a prior discussion here of eatly Tonian speakers popped up sorry OP, just thought some might have interest
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@996turbo911 , on the NAD front, I have both the M33 (v1) and the M10v2 in different, secondary/tertiary systems,* and the M10 was an upgrade from the C700 v2 also mentioned above. From what you describe, if NAD is still in the running, the M33v2 would be my recommendation —-i.e., its performance is well worth the additional cost and the upgrades from the original seem very promising. The M10 v2 (which i chose over the v3 because i don’t need the phono stage) is fine in a small room with easy to drive speakers, but the M33 is up a whole level (the Purifi Eigentakt amp is much better than the Hypex NCore module in the M10.) The M10 is pretty, though; and the M33 is also easy enough to look at. (I would not recommend the C700 v2.) I wonder whether anybody on here has or has auditioned the https://electrocompaniet.com/products/eci-6dx-mkii-integrated-amp-dac-streamer ? There is one that the owner claims is in great condition on sale at a very tempting price : https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650261927-electrocompaniet-eci-6-dx-mkii-integrated-amp/ ; and even the full price for a new one is quite in line with the other ones you’re considering. * FWIW, and full disclosure, I am aiming to move away from the M33 to separate DAC and streamer and a better amp, but for now, it does a perfectly fine job running a pair of REVEL 226Bes in a room that is about 15’x28’ with 9’ ceilings. Happy hunting! |
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