Im not sure by what you mean by 'all in one box " .To me, that would be a receiver with a built in cd player and dac, no ? What did he buy ? I am very curious . Thanks.
All-in-One units for retiring audiophile & music lovers in 2025, say what?
A good audio buddy friend closing in on his later parts of the golden years contacted me over the holidays. He started talking rather excitedly about these new all-in-one units. [Please disregard if this is nothing new for you and/or not of any real interest]. This story and ask below might not resonate with some. Hopefully others who can relate might reply, understanding a lot of what this is really about. A winding down audiophile friend, looking for simplicity of listening to music is what I can share up front.
I found my audiophile friend's [all of the sudden] inquiry interesting, me asking what he's looking at buying - say what?, and starting to ask him "does it sound good, look good, is it light weight or heavy, could you see it replacing everything as your new center piece in your big room, and all the other stuff gone - really?", "Say more". He started to share more. Please read on if any of this is resonating, Thanks.
We start talking and reminiscing about our early Go-To receivers from the mid 1970s. The big all-in-one boxes. Wider cases, big transformers, powerful, weighty, great FM tuners, tone controls, Big Stereo Sound. How it was back then - simple to listen to FM, big roller dial, plug in your turntable, tape decks, and enjoy the music for days. No other worries, let it play. Remember doing that? I bet many members here on Audiogon lived all of that too, and none of us will ever forget it. I won't.
I also bring this up because It dawned on me, I started asking myself wow - is this really occurring all over again in some new and exciting way. Like a giddy kid I start researching with him seeing more - woah, what? I did realize some of this [sort of an era renewal] was already occurring past few years, still not quite aware myself of what's out there, or coming back, maybe puzzled a bit and curious.
Seeing more videos, familiar reviewers, all touching on this topic past 1-2 yrs. Then you see some of the same new units popping up with all of the reviewers, hmmm.
So my fairly extreme multi [tube/amp/component] audio buddy [past 60 years] starts showing me these new generation [mostly] solid state units he's been looking at, seemingly ready to hang up ALL of the separate components. Says he simply wants "one box" now to "do it all", "getting rid of all this other stuff", to just "play music" and "be done". These were his exact words recently. Some may relate here. It kinda hit me. Something to be said for simplicity and just listening to music. Yes.
Next Generation -
Looking closely at these new units with my friend - seeing somewhat old-familiar design approaches, renewed, by real engineers. Ahhh, hey, there we see big transformers, a stout amplifier section, nice capacitors, thick copper wiring, big screws on power caps, robust binding posts, nice built in DAC, built-in streamer with tons of access, yep - tone controls, loudness control, low noise, meters, lighting - hmmm what's going on here. I soon realized I too need to pay attention and look around more closely - to see what he's really looking at and why. It starts to make a lot of sense, it's coming into a focus, just like the '70s era receivers were.
Fast forward a few weeks - Buddy just ordered his new all-in-one unit, maybe downsizing speakers. He's dropping back down to a new/familiar 70s style midsize speaker as well. He was initially anxious, a little nervous maybe, wondering - and decided to just go forward and "not look back" he says. Some of you may already be well down this path, or even doing this in 2nd, 3rd systems now. The whole thing is sort of a throwback [in some ways] to me, sort of what it use to be like 50yrs ago. Or feels that way to me. They say great ideas recycle back to themselves. Maybe so. Observing closer now.
Wow, wouldn't it be really cool if it could be all done really well, in one-box, once again? No more separates component listening - just hit the power button one time, turn up the volume, and let it play in the big room, listen, walk around, no worries - just let it play for days on end. I bet many here totally get why I posted this. It's for an audio friend.
ASK:
Please share your story. It would be so cool for him to read any of your stories. I know he would be interested and appreciate your wind-back consolidation journey too - if you have one like his to share in some way. Particularly those who've made great strides towards major consolidation and still enjoying the music. Dear buddy is starting the journey now to separate himself from his vast array of separates, lots of stuff, selling everything else soon, and going back to "one box" for simple music in the big room. I'm supporting him along the way on this particularly journey.
Thanks a million in advance for your replies - care to share your familiar story at all?
75 responses Add your response
DSM’s can have streamer, DAC, preamp and amps all in one box.
Well, I have not at all made the trip to consolidation and will not unless I am forced to go to a retirement home. However, I have listened extensively to the Linn DSMs. They are configurable from modest sound to very high quality. Each component is upgradable, and the very high end is astonishingly good. I can highly recommend the Klimax
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Thanks for the clarifying question. No CD, Streaming only all-in-one units. CD Player would be separate in this case. Btw this friend has multiple 2A3/45, 300B, KT88, 6L6/6V6 tube amps, tube preamps, Triode, Pentode etc. Several prior SS separates too. Also heavy into stacks of prior DACs, most sitting around to sell. Getting rid of it all. For All-in-Ones, next generation stuff: Buddy started out thinking of buying the Naim Atom. Looked interesting at first I gather. He ended up ordering the new Yamaha R-N2000A after various reviews and surprising attention and focus on this particular unit. Some relation with the integrated units we all know. Integrated with receiver add-ons back into the mix. Think old Yamaha, updated, modernized. Disclaimer: Neither of us are affiliated or selling anything, just something different that has been renewed in a way - that’s all. It’s kinda fun looking at the reviews, and what the reviewers are describing as well. Not totally new per se, yet the quality and parts are going back up, kinda surprising. 17lb el-cheapo receivers going back up to 48lbs, so what’s inside these units now :) It will be interesting if other known legacy brands will be offering something similar as this unfolds more. Hopefully it offers a bridge for brand new audiophiles too. |
If you are willing to forego physical media, there are many all in one units that can do a great job. The Yamaha mentioned is just one example. For less critical listeners on a budget, the Wiim Amp is a simple solution for only $300. Might not be enough power for some applications, but could meet the needs of many for not much money. |
I have both the Krell K300i and the NAD M33 Masters integrated/all-in-one amps. I quite like them both for different reasons. The Krell is luscious, powerful, smooth, and all around very pleasant. It needs an external streamer, but that’s fairly easy to come by. The NAD is remarkably fast and detailed, it has a built in streamer and DAC. Overall it is not as musically engaging (this is me being really picky). Of the two, I prefer the Krell, but both are worth an evaluation. ymmv, Peter |
McIntosh-Bose seems to make one too. Guess I came late to the party.
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T+A Hifi Caruso-R All-In-One System By T+A HiFi 100w, 50w https://www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/caruso-series/caruso-r/
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I have the Naim Uniti Atom in my wife’s art studio, it’s a quality piece and easy to use with her iPad and iPhone…paired with the Opera bookshelf speakers …it plays all day never a problem, it’s been a couple years now…my system is more intense…but this post has me thinking being I am 71 now and I am running out of time.. |
Not to wax philosophical, but Hegel has very nice integrated amps that include a streamer and DAC. Only missing are cables and speakers. But, McIntosh has what appears to be a genuine all-in-one: https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/music-streamers/RS250 that only requires one to connect a smartphone via Bluetooth. |
It sure what he wants. Good integrated amp can be over 100lbs, cheap units 10lbs. Does your buddy want to save money since he is retiring? Because there are ways to make things simple without sacrificing to less than optimal sound quality. Here are a couple ways to save money and really cut down on audio pieces. Go out and look at the Kef LS60 active speakers. This is the only piece of equipment you will need to stream music and they sound very good. You hook up an Ethernet cable and your done, no integrated amp, no external dac. Another option with more features, better sound quality, and Roon ready, would be a Auralic Polaris integrated. If you want a great sounding integrated, there are a few up to a $25,000 price tag. |
Not exactly. Without sharing too much - it’s more like he’s retiring from audio equipment altogether, readying to check out intentionally in a planned way. He can’t lift big components any more and not wanting to leave piles of rare or high $ exotic amps, preamps, tubes, cables, equipment for his spouse to have to deal with later on should something unplanned happen to him. I see it as him being mindful and tidy not leaving a mess for others to deal with, proactively moving his nice gear to others now while he still can - and still having a say about who it goes to. A key part of this I’d say. And, he wants to enjoy this last all-in-one equipment with his spouse where she can operate it together with him or operate and enjoy herself without his help. i.e respectfully, think later golden years of life as per the original post - if that was not clear before ;)
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Precisely. @silverfoxvtx1800 nailed it. The Atom is where this all started for him. One of his favorites btw, 40w x 2. Naim Unity Atom
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With some trial and testing, and needing to reduce the footprint in his living room, with all the tube amps going up for sale, and no more need for the recently new efficient Klipsch Hersey IVs there now, those will go up for sale and he will be giving smaller speakers on stands a try. Can be moved in/out easier too. He’s considering giving the Fritz Carbon 7s a try among a few others on the list for a review. Not confirmed yet, but considering this might be a good match-up. I myself have built a few pairs of speakers with the same drivers Fritz uses in these, and I also believe this could be an interesting pairing for him. Not for sure yet. He’s keeping ideas open and I will be showing him this thread after a few more pages of replies. Thanks to all for your kind interest and replies so far. |
You got it @silverfoxvtx1800 thanks for letting us know. Will do. |
As per @noodlyarm ’s post a few links and images - Nad M33 Bluos-streaming-dac-amplifier
Krell K-300i https://www.fidelity-magazine.com/krell-k-300i/
---- Great stuff folks keep them coming! :) |
Adding a link and pics, wow, pretty darn nice. AVM30, CS30 etc DAC has ESS 9038 converter, 125w x 2 https://avm.audio/masterpieces/avm-masterpieces-all-in-one-en/#AVM30
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links and pics https://simaudio.com/en/product/ace-all-in-one-music-player/
zzz |
Technics SU-R 1000 or SU G700 might be worth looking at. A touch on the warm side of neutral ( almost a requirement for true 70’s audio!) or a Linear Tube Audio Z-40. these have everything but a streamer
The NAD C 3050 definitely has the 70’s look. Another option is Lyngdorf tdai 1130 or 3400. Once set up, you can forget it, or tweak to your hearts content. I am 62, and just getting back into audio after 15 years. Had a nice system, and probably enough gear for 3 systems. I’ve been looking at both separates and highly integrated receivers. Integrated receivers eliminate worries surrounding component matching, and some of the best designs are not far off in performance from separates. I go back and forth. I’m not in a hurry, which helps. Can save a few more dollars while I wait for some inspiration on which way to go. Would love to have an Audionet Humbolt integrated and a pair of YG’s. I’d call it a day. Not likely to happen in this lifetime, but I can dream. |
I’d like to thank our OP and y’all for a forum where we can discuss how to begin to absorb what and where the next wave of audio ought to go.... ;) Where D amps first became a ’thing’, the early Tripath chips were being birthed, a company brought out a line of modular amps in 3 (?) levels of wattage and some fairly basic pre’s that assembled width-wise like horizontal Legos. Same basic HxWxD chassis and exterior format; the amp modules would be wider as the watts grew, no doubt for the power supply ’omph’.... Can’t remember the Co.’s name for the strife of me....open to suggestions and/or memories other than mine....*g* Another example of a concept ahead of it’s time, but certainly an answer to your buddy’s desires, and an ’end game’ for this 73 yr. with a spouse that wants ’poke & play’ tech that currently I’ve set up for evaluations on ’things’....of the sort.... We’ve had a small Phillips ’2 for 1’ for awhile now, and it still can surprise still show some ’legs’.....bought during a ’mean lean’ spell, left segment is a DVD/CD player ribbon-cabled to the right control/pre/amp segment. Still in use, chained to the LG screen....mated to a pair of Sony ’biggish’ 2 ways that allows the A in A/V...👌 Unless More IS MORE and I unleash everything Else....😏 The Else is only modular is the distribution amp, and it’s the same amp X6, one of many mod’s.... *sigh* ....still waiting.... ;)
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I have a friend who's heading in this direction. He's got a closet full of amps, preamps, speakers. Actually, a lot of is scattered around the floor of his small listening space and it's driving him crazy. He recently bought the Black Ice CD/streamer/DAC and was actually able to get the streaming working despite his own technical inexpertise. He loves it. I imagine soon he'll ditch all his tube stuff and find a SS integrated amp, which will knock it down to two pieces. He's just tired of fussing with it all, swapping stuff back and forth and back and forth, trying to find those Mullards he bought ten years ago, etc. etc. You get the picture. |
Some good all-in-one setups that can stream music on their own that just need a pair of passive speakers have been noted. That Yamaha looks good. I’ve have a few Yamaha Receivers that I’ve purchased over the years and they are still running well. I’ve been looking at the Cambridge Audio 150 which has wi-fi, DAC, class D amp and has outputs for 2 pairs of speakers. It has a lot of positive reviews online including a couple of best of 2024 mentions recently. I’m thinking about using for a portable system for long term stays for retirement. Either that or a pair of powered speakers with streaming that would reduce everything to one box for travel. I’ve thought about the same thing about leaving all my equipment behind. A couple of my buddies have agreed to take care of getting rid of the equipment for my wife so she doesn’t just sell it at a yard sale when I’m gone. It’s a part of estate planning only audiophiles have to think about. |
Great topic. Ok this is exactly what direction my life in audio has gone to since retiring several years ago.So here is an abbreviated story as most would get a headache if I listed all of it and probably recommend a good therapist . We first need to start with the fact that my first system was a $129.00 all in one table top stereo purchased in 1970 at the local appliance store . I think it was a Zenith (yes the people who made TV's)From that point I had a variety of these type systems until I actually had a real job and could leave the appliance store for a place in NYC called "crazy eddies" Wow you could actually go to this store and go in a room and have a sales guy (that you knew more about the components than he did) demo what was in the room. (you graduated to the big room if you were a serious audio nut) There's a scene in the movie Ruthless People where Judge Reingold plays this perfectly. That is how far I go back and how it really was. My first real system was a Pioneer SX something or other made with real wood side and view meters everywhere to delight the senses. The speakers were something called the BIC Ventura's that had real open ports for sound. I thought I died and went to heaven. My brother in law at the time had to come with me to pick it up as I needed his van to fit the boxes. Years thru one upgrade after another Krell mono block 's the size of small dorm refrigerators with Velodyne subwoofer the size of a coffee table with two Martin Logan e-stat speakers, Summits I believe. They looked like mock up of the Empire State Building . (Its a miracle I am married 51 years if you can imagine a wife living with this stuff in our living room) this was so big and loud that it was common for everyone in the house to go outside into the yard to visit when I had them playing as inside you needed sign language to communicate as you could not hear. Years later and many moves around the country for various executive jobs that God blessed me with the fortune of having, allowed for educating 3 children and still being able to afford a "Stereo" system. I graduated to the audio mountain My mountain top and last balls to the wall system was actually building a room in my basement for MUSIC complete with sound treatments that housed what was the first meridian solos system(this became the Roon guys of today) A Wall of total meridian Digital stuff for my several thousand CD collection. I was ready to die and go to heaven yet again. Fast forward to retirement several years ago. Since I was blessed to have this opportunity and blessed to have a life partner that put up with it I under considerable distress promised to turn our much smaller home and lifestyle back to my Wife and Family (now visitors) after many prayerful hours of reflection sold it all and started down the path to a HEADPHONE SYSTEM......wow was this a shock at first. After all the Wadia, Krell, B&W Classe, Levinson etc etc I actually was relieved that I could maintain my hobby, love of music and contribute to my family more normal lifestyle of private personal music listening in my lazyboy chair of choice. I actually love it. First it allowed for that kind of $$ to get really TOTL headphone setups for much less ( That was then as you know those days have also gone) however no truck required to pick up the equipment just to carry the money.......swear they saw guys like me coming. Anyway through the merry go round of tube amps, DAC's , network switches , Susvara, AB 1266 , Focal and all the in between I have landed with my first All in one since 1970 . I now have a 3 shelf rack with the Warwick Aperio, Innuos Zen-NG network switch/streamer/server I ripped everything to. Top off with a Teac transport for good measure.( Records had to go as well to much maintenance and space) Truth be told it's the best sounding system of them all. Granted you no longer physically attend a concert in your living room with Bass bouncing off your chest but it will hopefully add a few years to if not my life my hearing.... So go for it , HP are terrific, Private listening, no wall of stuff, happy family. Mind you this can cost more that the entire wall of stuff did before so they still get you in the end but hey, some people that are fortunate enough to have the $$$ collect cars???? ....Seriously it's a great move .. You can start down the Head-fi rabbit hole with plenty to choose from and start attending Can-Jam shows. ( which I do and the lunacy never stops.) At least this time no one in our home knows what equipment I have or cares as they barely see it and Never hear it.......I could have gone on but enough is enough.....I suspect. Long live Music and Audio!!! PS Had a DCS Lina system I also enjoyed and could be on one shelf. Sincerely like life there are compromises but not many really and much much simpler . Also know one cares when you go under the HP's |
Thanks to everyone for your great, kind, and clever replies. This thread is truly about helping those moving from audiophile separates to ultra-consolidated systems that still sound amazing, easy to manage/move, not taking up a lot of space. Audiophile All-in-One units, powered speakers, all great ideas here. In no way is this thread meant to take away from anyone enjoying separates. I’ll be in this camp too down the road. It will take me ten years to figure out how to consolidate all of my stuff too, LOL. There is hope for the future though for those consolidating now - reading all of these great replies to this thread. WOW, there is some really neat stuff shared so far. Had no idea some of these great audiophile all-in-ones already exist today. We can all see this is its whole sector of new devices coming out within the audiophile industry - very cool, Thanks to All here!
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I had the Naim Uniti Nova in my apartment using Revel PerformaBe F228Be speakers. There was no ethernet filtration and plain crackers speaker and power cable and a single ancient small sub. I did put in a hospital grade wall plug. It sounded good. Sold it when apartment was done with. Given the average cost of an amp, pre, streamer and dac in an all in one unit traded for connivence you get what you get. And what you get keeps on sounding better and better. BUT please let's not forget that the room matters as much as all the gop in it. Many of us have heard amazing gear in poor rooms and average gear in great rooms and the room wins out every time. I bet the Naim Uniti line or the like in a great/treated room would achieve the KISS equipment metric along with great sound strived for. |
For sure. Powered speakers which allow bluetooth to be streamed wirelessly or even cable connected from an iPad or phone or something, is a worthy/simple approach. While I've not tried it yet myself, the posts do pop up periodically. IIRC I read somewhere a few months back there were some powered-speakers that showed up at one of last years better known audio shows and some people were quite taken by them and the sound - over many other rooms. Hmmm. |
I’m going down a similar path hoping to consolidate 3 (possibly even 4, 5 or 7) components into one single component. I don’t stream, but can via my TV using Amazon Prime HD. Here are the components I am hoping to consolidate (all running in 2 channel stereo):
The rest of the components are possible to also consolidate:
I recently tried the Exposure 3010s2d integrated to consolidate the top 2 / 3 items (never got the limited connection DAC card in) and while it sounded good overall, I didn’t like it because:
The Atoll IN200 Evo with the DA100 DAC card is next on my list. Why?
Hopefully the IN200 Evo does indeed sound "almost" as good as the IN300 sig and does at least as well as my Audio Refinement (designed by YBA) separates. Even better, the phono modular card sounds just as good as my LP 2.0 mkII and I can eliminate the EQ in my system with grip and control characteristics listed above. Why do I mention all of this? It seems like the Atoll SDA300 does exactly what your friend wants to do (DAC / Streamer Ethernet in, same amp stage as the excellent IN300 sig, all in 1 remote plus nice display screen on front with phone app plus Bluetooth control also, headphone and usb front inputs and more including various computer hard drive reading formats) all in a very sleek and simple single box design. Maybe you could get by with an Atoll SD200 Evo if they make similar changes like the IN200 Evo? Only downside I see with the SDA300 is there is no phono card option and no tape in / out or monitor loop, but does have 2 RCA inputs so you could add an external phono stage. CD player could use second RCA or one of the digital inputs. |
To @sbrownnw that SDA300 Signature you've listed kinda proves what has evolved here. There are member-friends here with former Atolls that don't look anything like what you just shared. Streams Qobuz too like some others don't. Nice. Adding the pic here from your link above.
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Thanks @decooney for your reply. I am really hoping to consolidate 6 or 7 boxes down to 1 very shortly (should be receiving the IN200 Evo with DA100 card very soon) with the possibility of adding the P100 card at a future date. Any feedback or notable reviews for the P100 card? |
Depending on what he may be willing to spend, I would suggest an Accuphase Receiver with dac module in the used marketplace. The only thing missing would be the streamer. Everything else would be there that we are all familiar with, from the glory days of receivers. I think he would also appreciate the sound character based on his past equipment.
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Nope. Thanks, A few others keep trying to suggest simple integrated amps too. He's definitely going for the "all-in-one quality streamer amplifier" now. No more component cables, just speakers at most - nothing else. One switch to flip on, flip off. :) Its a good challenge for an audiophile like him to concur, maybe :), we'll see. This is another one of those guys who's tried more different tubes and dacs than anyone I know personally. Some surprising ideas here so far. Keep them coming!
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