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Integrated amp + DAC + room correction all-in-one for Nola Boxer 1 + REL R328 sub

Dear forum,

I’m looking to upgrade my integrated amp + external DAC source to an all-in-one integrated amp + DAC + room correction box. Budget to $2500, may stretch to $2800 if super-compelling.

I currently use a Creek 5350se integrated amp, with external DAC input from a Yamaha RX-V773 AVR (TI/Burr-Brown PCM1681 DAC chip on whatever circuit Yamaha cooked up).

Loudspeakers are Nola Boxer 1 on Dynaudio Stand 4, and REL R328 sub connected by Neutrix cable to main L/R binding posts on amp. Loongg runs of ProWire speaker and Neutrix cables through crawlspace to loudspeakers / sub.

Music = classical + opera, electronic, new & old rock, alternative, trap, house

Room is 18’ x 12’ x 13’h average ceiling height (2808 cu feet), hardwood floors, random furniture objects. Speakers 6’ apart, REL sub in corner to right of right speaker, listening position 8’ from center of speaker axis.

Requirements (but will flex if compelling):

  1. one box, no separates: amp + DAC and ideally + room correction
  2. ethernet-in on DAC circuit <= can be talked out of this if sensible alternatives
  3. ’classic’ & useful front-plate design <= no NuPrime IDA-16
  4. simple, solid, non-stupid remote <= again, no NuPrime. Rogue doesn’t get hi marks here either
  5. known affinity with Nola Boxer 1 a huge plus

Here are units I’m researching in DESC order of coveting-ness:

  • Hegel H190 <= yes $4K USD srp, will stretch to $2800 to buy used
  • Parasound HINT6 Halo <= ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M DAC, new product, no reviews/track-record. No ethernet-in either. Will stretch to $2800 for used ... and probly have to wait a long time for that.
  • Creek Evolution 100A <= no ethernet-in. Eventual poor reliability experience with my existing Creek 5350se, which used a lo-quality ALPS input switch, which is failing
  • Micromega M-100 <= will stretch to $2800 for used. No ethernet-in afaict.
  • Rogue Cronus Magnum II <= reviews suggest cheap-feeling remote. No ethernet-in.
  • Yamaha A-S801 <= ’budget’ solution at $900 USD, ESS Sabre ES9010K2M DAC circuit. Needs Yamaha wireless connector for ethernet-in. May not have room correction?

All helpful feedback appreciated including units I haven’t considered. Relatedly, I’m wondering how much I’d give up if I went the ’budget’ route (Yamaha A-S801).
usery
usery OP
131 posts
 
For those interested here's a preliminary report for my Micromega M-100. These are initial impressions right after setup, with < 90 minutes of listening time. Thanks again to all for the insight & comments.


Config:

  • Micromega M-100 (replaced factory power cable w/ slightly-better 14awg NEMA 'green-dot' hospital-grade pc. Cullen Cable Crossover Series pc ordered)
  • Nola Boxers v1 speakers on Dynaudio Stand 4's, via Straightwire Pro-12 spkr cables to M-100
  • REL R-328 subwoofer, via Neutrik cable to M-100 L/R binding posts
  • Denon DCD-815 cdp (redbook only) <= maybe upgrade, maybe not (rip all to flac, use UPnP over ethernet)
  • Audioquest Sydney rca interconnect (Denon cdp to M-100)
  • Google Chromecast Audio via cheap 3.5mm-to-toslink cable to M-100 optical in <= todo: upgrade toslink cable, power supply
  • Foobar2000 foo_upnp server/render for .flac to over ethernet
  • Belden MM07-BNTEC6 CAT6f patch cable from LAN hub to M-100 ethernet in <= token snake-oil interconnect

Listening log:

CD (redbook):
  • Pink Floyd - The Wall, Columbia ‎UDCD 2-537
  • Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young - Déjà Vu, Atlantic SD19118-2
  • Beethoven - Violin Sonatas Op.12 No.s 1-3, Naxos 8.550284
.flac (16/44.1 redbook to .flac via foobar2000 rip)
  • The Field - Looping State of Mind Remixe, Kompakt KOM 263
Chromecast Audio:
    • various - Spotify @ 320kbps


Physical:

1. Excellent, elegant appearance and build quality: case, rear panel, front panel display. Rear of case design not the friendliest / pragmatic-est (overhang constrains available space for handling interconnects)

2. Remote exudes material quality but ergonomics and usability are challenged: awkward one-hand operation due to size, shape, weight & button layout. Maybe I just need to practice.

3. Micromega M-One app for Android extremely unstable - crashes frequently during operation. That's too bad: can't reliably control the amp from beyond range of physical remote (see #2). Haven't sent feedback to Micromega yet.


Sound quality:

In short: pretty f'ing good. No, really f'ing good.

Would not have believed it were I not hearing it myself. Audiotroy was right. From entirely different galaxy than Creek 5350SE. Not a fan of hyperbole - but what I'm hearing puts me at risk of that. Or gushing overwrought, affected descriptions of the gross and subtle effects of the amp. So I'll stop with the narrative.


Interim verdict: so far, unmitigated victory for my requirements. All-in-one that does it all, most importantly kicking ass on sonic quality.

david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@usery  Fantastic! Congratulations on your "really f'ing good... unmitigated victory."
usery OP
131 posts
 
Congratulations...
david_ten thanks ... and thanks for reminding to resist my own urge towards hyperbole  ;  )

 i too am very interested in the Micromega...
portlandiego: here's a white paper from Micromega, was helpful for me during due diligence: http://www.micromega.com/downloads/white-paper-UK-v2.pdf



portlandiego
10 posts
 
@usery thank you! I hadn’t seen that one yet but I’ve been slowly making my way through all posted info... which seemingly is increasing. Incidentally, I posted a response on another thread that may be more appropriate here. I’ll copy and repost below. 
portlandiego
10 posts
 
From an older thread... I meant to reply here. Apologies for double posting:

It’s worth mentioning that a Micromega rep (in Portland, OR) confirmed that the phono stage remains completely analog. There is no digital conversion.

Another post in this thread mentioned something about the number of inputs. Seems like a lot of folks are overlooking the XLR inputs. These are analog — so even without balanced cables, a XLR-male-to-RCA-female adapter gives a second analog input. In a home audition, there was no discernible difference in sound from the RCA analog input (same RCA cables coming from an Oppo 203). And if you have the 205 you have the option to go fully balanced (sadly, I do not). That plus a phono stage makes three analog inputs. Optical input for a BluRay player, USB input for a computer, and an Ethernet cable for any over the air play and network devices seems like a whole heck of a lot of options to me. 

I believe the Micromega app has internet radio stations from all over the world and the same Micromega rep also confirmed Tidal is coming to the app within the next few weeks.

I spent a good amount of time with a demo unit and would be happy to answer any more questions!
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