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Post by Clive on Nov 5, 2018 14:56:13 GMT
Spurred on by a comment from Julian on Martin's new beginning thread I thought I'd make a comment about the way systems are developing. Just over a week ago I was at the Copenhagen HighEnd show, I was covering it for the internet magazine I write for. I was struck by the number of not just media servers such as those from Innuos but combined streamers & preamps or indeed streamers combined with integrated amps - from Alluxity, Phison, Cambridge Audio, Densen, Taga, Grimm (complete active system all in one) and more... Not at the show and at the budget end we have the Yamaha europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/wireless_streaming_amplifiers/wxc-50/index.html, it's a streamer available as a preamp (£249) or with power amp. I can't help feeling this is becoming the standard way to build a system. Some of the higher end pieces of kit can be ordered with phono stages. One box of electronics, a pair of speakers and a really very good sound. It's a long way from budget all-in-1 systems a few decades ago. Of course the Avantgarde Trios were spectacular and still used a traditional source-pre-power setup but you need something to show for the £200k required....for the very best possible sound. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 5, 2018 15:06:08 GMT
Sounds like a hole in the market bringing Hifi like sound to those looking for better than just their phone. (Oooer)
Be interested to see what my stepson does with his current system : iPhone and 1 Bose active speaker.
He's aware of what I'm doing and may add when he hears this lot
Looking around at what Bose and other do now that market seems to have increased enormously with a path to the kit you saw I bet
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2018 15:19:49 GMT
I maybe wrong, but I feel that in the UK it has a lot to do with cost. People still seem to think that you need to spend a small fortune to get a good system. Whereas we all know that you just don't.
There are plenty of system options out there that don't cost an arm an a leg, but produce some very good sounds.
Yes, the more you are willing/able to spend, generally the better components you get, but that is certainly not always the case, and it comes down market value of the manufacturer you are buying products from.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 5, 2018 15:35:04 GMT
Having read about the new Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 streamer/amp hereabouts just yesterday, that seems to be a rather nicely designed all-in-one box just requiring speakers, too.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 5, 2018 15:52:11 GMT
Spurred on by a comment from Julian on Martin's new beginning thread I thought I'd make a comment about the way systems are developing. Clive - I'm hoping to get my digital new system up and running soon enough - should be getting final components in a week or so. I'll be starting a new blog about my findings! |
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Post by Clive on Nov 5, 2018 18:51:10 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Nov 5, 2018 20:04:43 GMT
The second photo down looks like good fuel for the day.
Ooh, a Triplanar arm. Love them!
Oh, and that Avantgarde system...
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Post by Clive on Nov 5, 2018 20:22:25 GMT
I couldn't believe that beer was brewed by Carlsberg. It was very good indeed. Yes the Avantgardes are my dream, well one of them anyway....
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 5, 2018 21:03:12 GMT
It's most refreshing to see an unpretentious write up that covers a wide range of gear at very different price points!
I would love to go to this show. Had an amazing time in Copenhagen not so long ago, and would return in a shot ...
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Post by Clive on Nov 5, 2018 21:39:56 GMT
That's kind of you to say so Jules. I just write it as I see it and have fun with new kit or at shows like this one. It's a lot of work too..
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Post by MartinT on Nov 5, 2018 22:30:09 GMT
Great write-up, Clive. Reading your bio I see we have much in common, especially your musical tastes. Encompassing Floyd, Dire Straits and Goldfrapp, eh? I used to lap up those kit articles in both HFN and HFW as well as the technical builds in Wireless World, ETI and Elektor, like the Linsley-Hood 75W amp which I built.
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Post by Clive on Nov 5, 2018 23:08:41 GMT
Ha! Martin, it's the Linlsey Hood kit by Hart Electronics that got me started with writing about hifi. I wanted to build two monoblocks so I wrote to Steve Harris at HFN, asked if he'd pay me for a diy article. He said yes all yhose years ago. Now that I'm retiring from IT I'm ramping up the writing.
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Post by John on Nov 6, 2018 4:40:02 GMT
Nice write up Clive
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Post by brettj on Nov 6, 2018 6:46:20 GMT
Was starting to look at an 'all-in-one' system for my eldest daughter.
Dac, amp, bluetooth/streaming.
Maybe Peachtree Audio, or something similar.
Took my old A&R Cambridge A60 over to her in the interim, and my beech Qual 11L speakers.
She loved the look of them (had often mentioned she'd have my Quads).
Threw in an Audioquest Dragonfly Red Dac.
Cheaper system, and better sounding than what I probably would have got her.
She's not giving them back.
Makes Youtube and The History channel way more fun.
She's happy, but actually I'm stoked.
Really like some of the old gear.
Worried about possible glare from some of the new stuff.
Only two more girls to go...
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Post by MartinT on Nov 6, 2018 7:58:39 GMT
In a similar vein and a low cost starter option is the Pioneer XC-HM86D all-in-one CD/streamer/amp that we use in our kitchen. An excellent unit with all the right features and plenty of power. One of these plus speakers makes an excellent starter system.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2018 9:22:29 GMT
In a similar vein and a low cost starter option is the Pioneer XC-HM86D all-in-one CD/streamer/amp that we use in our kitchen. An excellent unit with all the right features and plenty of power. One of these plus speakers makes an excellent starter system. Compare that to the Midi and Mini systems of the 80s and 90s and it seriously shows how technology and people’s expectations have moved on. |
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Post by Clive on Nov 6, 2018 10:28:52 GMT
 If you need to go even smaller and can cope without a CD drawer, here's the £329 Yamaha with 70W amp, toslink, usb, ethernet, bluetooth & wifi, all controlled via an app. I suppose in the end all of this will be on a single chip or maybe two. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2018 11:05:32 GMT
Nice write up Clive.
To be fair these changes have been happening here in the UK albeit slower but definitely heading towards a quality 'My parents' Bush music center type system.
One deal with one product that does all that the Yamaha does, plus much more flexibility and power and it does sound stupidly good for the cost, it has no right to sound that good!
All that is required are speakers of your taste and as you say it delivers for the vast majority of owners.
Times have been a' changing here in the UK, just at a much slow pace!
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Post by Slinger on Nov 6, 2018 13:25:38 GMT
I wonder how many people actually use these little gems to their full potential, and how many are happy just bunging their low-res MP3 files through them.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 6, 2018 14:11:41 GMT
Radio Paradise, Spotify and Bluetooth streaming, optical for TV sound and the occasional CD are played on ours.
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