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?
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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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! :) |
You got it @silverfoxvtx1800 thanks for letting us know. Will do. |
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. |
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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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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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 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. |
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.. |
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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McIntosh-Bose seems to make one too. Guess I came late to the party.
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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 |
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. |
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. |
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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