One box do it all


Enough of separates. Too many boxes, too many cables, don't care for those anymore.

I am willing to get a simple box that will do for me:
- AMP driving Dynaudio special forty, at least 100W
- Pre Amp for digital and analog
- Needs to have phono input as I still do some 20% listening on those, possibly MC but can live with MM
- Streaming, has to be Roon Ready as most of the time I do Roon or Roon on top of Qobuz
- Budget 2500, can't really stretch it much more than that

Seems like Cambridge EVO 150 and Arcam SA30 fit the bill but I will not get a chance to listen to those comparatively and the reviews (the "honest" ones that I could find) are kind of OKish but several complaints on Arcam stability and not so convincing on Cambridge SQ. NAD C388 also come to mind but doesn't seem to have much of a reputation

Anyone here has had personal experience with those ?

Any alternative that I should consider ?

Thanks a lot for reading so far,

Mark.
marklings

Showing 5 responses by ozzy62

Not sure where you are coming from, but 2500.00 to do all that is slicing pretty thin. I guess you are ok with the hit you will probably take on SQ to get the convenience you want?
Yes, my suggestion was valid. Although I didn't offer any advice on what to buy, I did offer advice to think about what you give up in order to achieve what you say you want. Just a thought........

Oz


It sure is nice to have it all in one box. But you have to lower your expectations on sound quality. This is something I'm not willing to do.

Oz


@ozzy62 would you include the higher end integrateds in your evaluation as well? Boulder 866, Gryphon Diablo 300, Simaudio 700vi2?

No. The OP was pretty specific with his budget and his requirements. There have been several suggestions that don't meet them all, needing to add either a phono stage or a streamer. My contention is that a one box solution at 2500.00 will have to compromise something, and that something is more than likely sound quality. All of the ones you mention are way above his budget, and most of them don't have everything he wants.

I use what I consider to be a high end integrated by Allnic, but it's just that, only an integrated. None of the other fluff.......

Oz




OP

As you build your list, please consider adding Odyssey Audio's integrated unit, Cyclops. Odyssey (Klaus) is in Indianapolis and he builds some high end pieces that IMO are the best buys in audio today. I have his solid state pre, Tempest and it sings!! Integrated unit is around $1k ... which leaves a lot left over! Let us know what ya choose ...
Read the OP. This doesn't come close to what he wants.