2. amps-preamps
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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
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
2,315 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?
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Another vote for the Naim Uniti Atom. I would believe it could drive your speakers satisfactorily. It powered a pair of Vandersteen Treo Ct's effortlessly and the sound was glorious. Judging the amp on speakers other than your own isn't a fair test for any amp. I wouldn't have been wowed by the speakers you compared it on either. Neither are my cup of tea, but as usual, just my opinion.
usery
131 posts
 
@joshelston:

"What speakers are you running with it?"
Nola Boxers on Dynaudio Stand 4, similar form and spec to your ATC - SCM11 v2. Also have a single REL R-328 sub, soon to be replaced by dual Syzygy SLF870’s.

I didn’t spring for the Micromega "M.A.R.S" room correction (+ $1K). Subs come first, and as it turns out the Syzygy’s have DSP and DRC features, in very innovative fashion.

Source material is mostly .flac from NAS over wired ethernet direct to the M-100, and Tidal "hi-res" over ethernet - also to be replaced as soon as Qobuz is live in USA.

These days less and less redbook CD’s to M-100 RCA-in, but I still buy some to rip to .flac (the recordings I’m after aren’t on Tidal).

Also Chromecast to M-100 optical-in - which I don’t use (it’s for my wife’s Spotify playlists).
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