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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
jafant
19,009 posts
 

austinbob-


which Mark Levinson pre-amp/power amp did you replace?


Happy Listening!

benb
34 posts
 
Any further comments on the M100 or other comments on alternate options.  I’m in the same situation and considering the Marantz nr1609 among others
usery OP
131 posts
 
benb,

Before I settled on the M-100 I too was looking 'downmarket', at the Yamaha A-S801 - though by design that unit is mostly committed to 2-channel stereo rather than the 'AV' of the Marantz nr1609. If AV is the feature set you're looking for, then the M-100 or A-S801 may not be the right fit.
benb
34 posts
 
No, I’m actually looking for two channel (plus sub), but it seems that the receivers that can do network streaming plus phono plus room correction mostly end up in the AV world.
usery OP
131 posts
 
benb - then your requirements were like mine when I first started shopping. I already had the sub piece solved (REL R-328 connected by Neutrik to L/R mains output). From advice on this thread I deferred room correction until later (and for my money Micromega’s optional MARS is overpriced).  I took a chance on the M-100 and for me it's a winner, sonic performance being the most-important attribute. Network streaming, phono and all the rest are there too.  Regrettably the Android control app is abysmally unstable - an actual embarrassment, if I were on that Micromega team.
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