Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Fine Living, Home, Design & Auto › One-box stereo systems
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

One-box stereo systems

post #1 of 39
4/19/09 at 11:46pm
Thread Starter 
The brief is to find something simple yet musical for the summer house. CD, integrated amp and tuner in one box, with some room to take external sources (iPod, cassette). Cool temps, good ergonomics to be considered virtues in this context.

Naim has a new one, and Linn has various versions of the Classik out there. Arcam and NAD are players in the space. Any experiences, other candidates?
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 39
4/20/09 at 12:14am
I think you've got them all covered, except for the cheap "executive" systems from Sony, JVC, etc.

Meridian also has an all-in-one, including speakers, that's supposed to sound very good. I like the Arcam very much. If you don't need a CD player, some of the iPod systems may work well for you, or even active speakers with a passive selector.

--Andre
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 39
4/20/09 at 12:19am
I have a Toshiba "Executive System" from 1980 that has everything including this boiler-plate power amplifier--it cost $3500 in 1980. Of course, it doesn't have a CD player.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 39
4/20/09 at 3:32am
Meridian F80 (if you can stand having the stupid Ferrari horse on it)
Myryad Mi
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 39
4/20/09 at 3:39pm
Tivoli? Do they make an all-in-one system?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 39
4/20/09 at 4:32pm
Music Hall Trio
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 39
4/20/09 at 4:44pm
Bose.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 39
4/20/09 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sonick View Post
Tivoli? Do they make an all-in-one system?
+1

Save your money and buy a Tivoli. No matter how expensive, a one box system will sound like a one box system. (with minor variations... )Tivoli is splendid!
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 39
4/20/09 at 7:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LabelKing View Post
I have a Toshiba "Executive System" from 1980 that has everything including this boiler-plate power amplifier--it cost $3500 in 1980. Of course, it doesn't have a CD player.



Is this the System 12 or 15, also labeled under Aurex? I found the Toshiba version of the System 12 (amp, pre-amp and tuner) at a garage sale last year. Very cool - the amp is very powerful for it's size.

http://www.hifi-studio.de/hifi-klass...shiba_1980.htm

Reply
Reply
post #10 of 39
4/20/09 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by robin View Post
Bose.


"...simple yet musical ..."
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 39
4/20/09 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nataku View Post
Is this the System 12 or 15, also labeled under Aurex? I found the Toshiba version of the System 12 (amp, pre-amp and tuner) at a garage sale last year. Very cool - the amp is very powerful for it's size.

http://www.hifi-studio.de/hifi-klass...shiba_1980.htm


Yes, I have the Series 15, which was the higher-grade one. The 12 was apparently a grade down.

The things are extremely well-made. They make a lot of very high-end electronics look cheap.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 39
4/21/09 at 6:11pm
^^ Very nice. Yeah, I think the 15 came with an additional component too (tape deck perhaps?). The amp on my 12 doesn't have the plates on top, either. It still sounds great, though.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 39
4/21/09 at 7:14pm
I just love the B&W Zeppelin
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2466

It looks and sounds fantastic and who needs CDs when you use your ipod?
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 39
4/27/09 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy View Post
It looks and sounds fantastic and who needs CDs when you use your ipod?

If you're using highly compressed source music I question the need for a higher end all in one system -- you'll never get "all the music" from a compressed source.

If, on the other hand, you're driving your digital listening from an HD with an outboard quality DAC, then (with the right set up) CDs are not necessary. In other words, the "need" for CDs stems from the quality of the uncompressed music.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 39
4/27/09 at 5:53pm
iPods can play lossless in AIFF or ALC. There are also digital docks so you can avoid the iPod's DACs.

--Andre
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Fine Living, Home, Design & Auto › One-box stereo systems