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?

 

 

 

 

 

decooney

@ghdprentice

Yes, only Linn Majik has the amplifier and it is a an all-in-one integrated amp. Majik is the entry level series in Linn products. Klimax is the flagship or top of the line series in Linn products.

Yes, the Klimax DSM sounded fantastic but it’s expensive. I think the current model of Klimax DSM currently retails for over $40k new. You can bypass its preamp section (volume control) and use it strictly as source component as a streamer/DAC and connect it to an external separate preamp.

I once heard the Klimax DSM in an all ARC setup where the Klimax DSM was used strictly as source (streamer/DAC) only and was bypassed its preamp section. The Klimax DSM then fed into an ARC REF 10 tube linestage preamp, which is an ARC flagship linestage preamp, which then fed into two pairs of ARC REF 75SE monoblock tube amps in bi-amping configuration driving a pair of Sonus Faber Aida ll speakers. Wonderful setup. FYI, the Aida ll speakers can be tri-amped.

I’ve also heard the Klimax DSM in all Linn Klimax setup and system and they were also fantastic sounding.

But since OP was asking for an all-in-one integrated solution I think the Naim Uniti Nova would be the best option if he’s willing to spend that kind of money. Of course he can look for a used Uniti Nova which can be had lot cheaper than new. I’ve heard the Nova multiple times hooked up to different speakers each time and I loved the sound of that Naim. I’m a fan of Naim. The Uniti Nova crushes the Linn Majik DSM all-in-one integrated amp sonically but is also quite a bit more expensive than the Linn Majik. .

@caphill ...But since OP was asking for an all-in-one integrated solution I think the Naim Uniti Nova would be the best option if he’s willing to spend that kind of money.

Update -

I’m the OP, and this thread was posted for a friend who is winding down from a collection of SET, PSE, pentode tube amps, tube preamps, fair collection of tubes, speakers in transition, and more. He started out the search with the Naim Unity Atom and soon to be trying out the new Yamaha R-N2000A all-in-one streamer amplifier. Fits the bill for a new room move that’s not optimized for audio. Has minimal room correction, bass/ treble tone controls, loudness control. All he wants and needs for his winding-down front room system. Moving to the main family room, not ideal, best he can do and consolidating. Might be picking up some 3-way Wharfedale speakers next, and stands for fitment. A small tube system for the office and that will be it, Roger That, over and out.

If the new all-in-one system goes "good enough", the collection of 1-3 yr tube amps, tube preamps, all the tubes in tubs, and recently new horn speakers all goes up for sale in a few months on USAM, or Agon, and/or eBay next. He’s trying, needs to, and while not overly thrilled with all of it appreciates the help so far. Thanks!

ML no. 532 is a herculean beast, not sure if you hear better with that amp.  Might be worth the repair.  If not, any of the Japanese integrated of Accuphase, Luxman or Yamaha.  If not, you can go for a black box Hegel.  Cheers.

@decooney Hey thanks for the kind words. We have no local 'real' audio dealers unless you count best buy, sams and walmart. No real source of serious gear. Everything that steps up to serious gear is multiple hours away from me. And I just cannot make those kinds of road trips now. Too old too tired and too many other things to manage while the house is being rebuilt. ARGH. I would love to have a local B&M store to visit and ultimately support, but its totally off the table. I will only buy major ticket equipment from sources that offer a home trial with the ability to return if its unacceptable. That will surely limit my choices, but in my biosphere, traveling 3-4 hours to visit my audio dealer is unacceptable. I don't enjoy driving much anymore. At least not in traffic with distracted drivers more interested in their cellphones than actually driving their car. No thanks, I will stay at home where I am less likely to die in a preventable accident.

@asvjerry Hi Jerry, thanks for your insights. And yeah, revising the approach thruout the house is an ongoing project. I want good video capability in any room except the kitchen. For office space, I am considering a wall mounted TV that I can watch videos or live tv on in addition to a desktop monitor with good quality 2 channel audio. This becomes the practice room for the trombone and bass guitar as well and provides a decent ( I hope ) listening environment separate from the theater room. My wife often wants to watch things that I have no interest in seeing and having my own refuge in my office that gives decent sound and relatively immersive video would be a great solution to differing tastes in programming. So the office becomes listening room, practice room and substitute TV room. I can downgrade from 5 to 2.1 channels with minimal suffering in that space. I might change my mind later but for now, 2.1 seems adequate. That way I can close the door and work or play or relax and not worry about my wife doing her thing in the theater room. The kitchen will likely be powered from the main theater room system with its own amplifier. And possibly the garage too, though I am inclined to do bluetooth from my phone to a stand-alone system there. Still working on solutions that offer the most flexibility without breaking the bank. Part of all this depends on how the insurance company is to deal with. So far we have found them not to want to play nicely, so until we can get a sense of what their bottom line really is, all plans are in a serious state of flux.