Is there a better all-in-one streamer/DAC/Integrated Amp under USD 5K?
For driving a pair of small, 4 ohm 86 dB speakers (DALI Menuet SE) for a small to medium size room at low to moderate SPLs, is there a Roon Ready, all-in-one streamer/DAC/Integrated Amp under USD 5K that is likely to perform sonically better than the Gato DIA 250S NPM?
Hifi-Rose RS520, GaN FET–based class-D "... there was weight, control, authority, clarity, and palpability. I heard sweet detail up top that didn't become brittle even on borderline sibilant recordings..." https://www.stereophile.com/content/hifi-rose-rs520-streaming-integrated-amplifier-specifications |
Thanks @rick_n i knew i was being a bit unfair in the wording, but I figured to keep it very open ended so people could use their own subjective sense of what they think is good/better. I think there is a Hegel dealer near by; so i will try to hear that; A/B is of course tempting A thank you @lanx0003 both the RS520 and Naim Uniti Nova seemed like contenders. Some reviews noted the RS520 sound as a bit “dry” though and that gave me pause. (I don’t know anywhere i could go to hear it for myself.) The Gato uses Pascal amp modules and I’m very tempted by those. Does anybody have views on the Naim Nova?
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I have a NAIM Uniti Atom. I ran Vandersteen Treo CT in a fairly large room. Full range floor-stander 87 db. It now runs Apogee Centaur- Minor. The AB NAIM amps are imo noteworthy for being musical - certainly not dry or etched.!it is ROON ready and the NAIM app is quite stable and good. If you want more power and features move up the line w 2 models above the Atom, best in music to you jim |
WT amp ultra (streamer+DAC+amp) might sound better. Roon ready. 200watts/4ohm. Only $1300. Alex/Wavetouch audio Sample Test - Gato AMP 150 - DIA 250 |
this or this @kirkwallace |
