Hey all,
After many years, I am looking to put together a new two channel speaker setup. My goal isn't ultimate audio quality (although as a lifelong audiophile it pains me to say that) but rather a good balance of quality and home-friendliness.
Basically, with the advent of streaming, I figured it would be great to centre the system around an all-in-one integrated amp with streaming, but I'm having trouble finding suitable units to shortlist/audition. Here are my requirements:
- a one box integrated amp capable of powering reasonable quality bookshelf speakers (will be something like Sonus Faber Sonetto 1, ELAC DBR-62, or Revel M105, haven't quite decided)
- Sources will include streaming audio (Tidal lossless, Apple Music lossless, Spotify, Idagio lossless), local files stored on my network (mostly high res audio) and a Rega Planar 3 turntable. So the unit should be able to handle streaming services (or at the very least chromecast/airplay), as well has have a good quality analogue line in (or, even better, a good quality MM phono stage, one less box to have).
- a decent quality headphone out. I have a full headphone setup that I will keep separate (RME ADI-2 DAC FS and Violectric HPA V281), but for this system I'd like to be able to drive a pair of Senn DH600 'phones with reasonable quality.
I guess something like the Naim Unity Atom is functionally appropriate but I'm totally put off by how it measures.
I'm also open to a separate pre-amp and amp setup that can accomplish the same list of things.
Your suggestions will be incredibly useful!
J.
After many years, I am looking to put together a new two channel speaker setup. My goal isn't ultimate audio quality (although as a lifelong audiophile it pains me to say that) but rather a good balance of quality and home-friendliness.
Basically, with the advent of streaming, I figured it would be great to centre the system around an all-in-one integrated amp with streaming, but I'm having trouble finding suitable units to shortlist/audition. Here are my requirements:
- a one box integrated amp capable of powering reasonable quality bookshelf speakers (will be something like Sonus Faber Sonetto 1, ELAC DBR-62, or Revel M105, haven't quite decided)
- Sources will include streaming audio (Tidal lossless, Apple Music lossless, Spotify, Idagio lossless), local files stored on my network (mostly high res audio) and a Rega Planar 3 turntable. So the unit should be able to handle streaming services (or at the very least chromecast/airplay), as well has have a good quality analogue line in (or, even better, a good quality MM phono stage, one less box to have).
- a decent quality headphone out. I have a full headphone setup that I will keep separate (RME ADI-2 DAC FS and Violectric HPA V281), but for this system I'd like to be able to drive a pair of Senn DH600 'phones with reasonable quality.
I guess something like the Naim Unity Atom is functionally appropriate but I'm totally put off by how it measures.
I'm also open to a separate pre-amp and amp setup that can accomplish the same list of things.
Your suggestions will be incredibly useful!
J.
