2. amps-preamps
  3. 140953-84060

All in one Pre/Power/Streaming/DAC or Streaming Preamp/DAC combo ~$2k-4k recommendations

Howdy!

Looking for recommendations on a user-friendly  pre/power/dac/streamer OR preamp/dac/streamer combo or all in one pre/power/dac/streamer combo.  ~$2-4K is my price range.  These combos are difficult to search the internet for and even more difficult to search Audiogon for (what section do you list them in?). 

Here's what I think are my requirements.  I say, "I think" because I'm open to other options to get me there.
1. Control unit with iphone, ipad
2. Runs Tidal
3. Runs cool-- my equipment is behind doors away from 2 year old hands
4. Fun options- HDMI input, bluetooth, air play, room correction- I have no control over placement options for speakers (wife retains that authority)
5. If recommending all-in-one box with power needs plenty of watts to run ATC speakers, generally >100wpc.

Current system consists of ATC SCM 11 v2 speakers, Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 which runs straight into Wyred for Sound ST-500 mk 2 power amp.  I have a Squeezebox touch from which I stream Tidal.  Also have an apple tv and sony uhp-h1 universal player connected through the DAC.  My stereo is in the main living room connected with the tv that everyone uses.

I"m really looking for functionality upgrade, not necessarily looking to improve on the sound.  I'm pretty pleased with sound quality and I don't know if I could elaborate on what sound quality I would improve upon if you asked.  I want my wife and kids to be able to use it and enjoy it as much as I do.  Think Taylor Swift dance parties (for my daughters), country music for the wife, and jazz/acoustic for me, and tv sound through the stereo all of the rest of the time.   

Right now I have a separate remote for all the devices.  I frequently have 3 remotes in my hand at once.  I use iPeng to control the Squeezebox, but I don't think it's great and doesn't integrate all that well with Tidal. Wife and kids find it more difficult to use.

My wants seem to outweigh my bank account- the eternal audiophile conundrum.

Thanks for your input!


joshelston
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@joshelston  
 
It’s a high end one, and any stereo ones with HDMI aren’t as up to date and won’t have as frequenct/timely updates.  
  
As I was hinting at with all the specs I gave, it is excellent for music as well. There is still a $10,000 amp challenge if you think amps that are level matched and operating below audible distortion with linear amplification sound different.
freesole
159 posts
 
What about the PS Audio Directstream? Works as a Pre, includes streaming and integrates with Tidal well. It is also a capable Roon endpoint. 
usery
131 posts
 
@joshelston:

"... the M100 and M150 are the most intriguing to me and I keep going back to them"
So did I when I was shopping all-in-one’s, much like your search.

So I bought one (M-100). Haven’t looked back, so far I’m utterly satisfied. Sound quality is superb; build quality, engineering and features are home-runs. Pretty amazing actually, for such a low-profile form factor. More from other owners in related posts here and here.

"Hard to find any reviews that are of any help."
This one helped me. Yes it’s provided by Micromega, but it’s legit. That UK hifi magazine is still a bit in dark ages wrt web site, but the M-One review is sound.

Why so few reviews? Who knows. Maybe something to do with ROI with USA marketing & press, relative to all the other brands? Good question for Mssr. Adrien Hamdi, Director of Sales & Marketing at Micromega HQ en Boissy-saint-Leger. Un homme bon, he’ll respond to inquiries.
rsf507
2,342 posts
 
@joshelston have not heard the GN is-1000 but use the company’s PH-10 phono unit and love it, built extremely well.
joshelston OP
53 posts
 
@usery64– really helpful comments and references.  Thank you for chiming I’m with your personal experience and other good info.  What speakers are you running with it?
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