Compact all-in-one systems?
Posted by: Paul Hutchings on 21 October 2007
My Naim system is spending its life in the spare room as it's too big and a lot of space/effort for what tends to be background noise and stuff from iTunes these days.
My ideal would be a brick that simply emits decent sound.
I'm looking at several options:
Bose Wave Music System
Bose Acoustic Wave II
Boston Acoustics MicroSystem CD
Creative Soundworks 740
Onkyo CBX-100
Of those I've heard the Bose and Boston systems, and have to admit both Bose systems sounded pretty damned good.
I accept anything such as this is always going to be compromise, just curious who has had any of the above and can offer an opinion on how good/bad it was?
TIA,
Paul
My ideal would be a brick that simply emits decent sound.
I'm looking at several options:
Bose Wave Music System
Bose Acoustic Wave II
Boston Acoustics MicroSystem CD
Creative Soundworks 740
Onkyo CBX-100
Of those I've heard the Bose and Boston systems, and have to admit both Bose systems sounded pretty damned good.
I accept anything such as this is always going to be compromise, just curious who has had any of the above and can offer an opinion on how good/bad it was?
TIA,
Paul
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by droodzilla
I haven't heard it myself, but the Meridian/Ferrari collaboration is supposed to be excellent. Several members commented on it after the Heathrow show. It's a little dear at £1400, but meets your "music emitting brick requirement". A rather handsome brick, to boot:
Meridian F80
Meridian F80
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by davie1967
shanling mc-30 supposed to be great..£500
http://stuff.tv/gallery/shanling-mc-30/default.aspx
http://stuff.tv/gallery/shanling-mc-30/default.aspx
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by warwick
Also check out the various online reviews of the Arcam Solo and Linn Classic. You can save a lot by getting a system that doesn't have DVD capability.
Do a search on The Times website for audiophile systems.
Do a search on The Times website for audiophile systems.
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by Steve S1
quote:Originally posted by droodzilla:
I haven't heard it myself, but the Meridian/Ferrari collaboration is supposed to be excellent. Several members commented on it after the Heathrow show. It's a little dear at £1400, but meets your "music emitting brick requirement". A rather handsome brick, to boot:
Meridian F80
Bit pricey, but it is excellent. Far better than the Bose. I'm familiar with both and the Bose is good, but the F80 is rather special even in a large room. A neat trick.
Steve
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by Paul Hutchings
quote:Originally posted by droodzilla:
I haven't heard it myself, but the Meridian/Ferrari collaboration is supposed to be excellent.[/URL]
I've seen that, had a quick listen at Harrods of all places, but it was in the open on a crowded shop floor.
Tbh I think it's overkill and more than I would be happy spending.
I think it's between the cheaper Bose and the Onkyo as I wasn't £300 worth of impressed with the Boston, and the Creative looks a little "busy" for my liking.
Assuming it's not a type the Onkyo looks a steal at the price vs. £400 for the Bose, if the sound quality is there, and that's the problem, sod all dealers to go try one at.
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by davie1967:
shanling mc-30 supposed to be great..£500
http://stuff.tv/gallery/shanling-mc-30/default.aspx
Supposed being the operative word if it sounds like any of their other products I've heard - i.e absolutely horrible. True I've not heard this item, but their other products are just so dire that I'd never want to listen to another one. Build quality is mediocre too. The styling of the MC-30 is so awful there are no words to describe it.
The Linn Classik is much better - IMHO, of course.
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by davie1967
Couple of hi fi mags tested it and were impressed(not what hi-fi) . for the money you do get a lot but yes you do get what you pay for but in this case hes playing an ipod through it so sound quality isnt the main criteria.
Posted on: 21 October 2007 by David Sutton
Hello,
I went through a similar process and ended up with a F80. It still brings a broad grin to my face. An excellent bit of kit. But expensive.
Good luck.
David
I went through a similar process and ended up with a F80. It still brings a broad grin to my face. An excellent bit of kit. But expensive.
Good luck.
David
Posted on: 22 October 2007 by DAVOhorn
What about going Bang and Olufsen their ICE amp modules are all the rage and their stuff looks georgeous and sounds pretty fair.
Way beyond BOSE etc .
Seriously go and look at their stuff.
Stunning aesthetics and very wife friendly.
They do range of wonderful range of discrete speakers and subs that would do a decent job .
regards David
Way beyond BOSE etc .
Seriously go and look at their stuff.
Stunning aesthetics and very wife friendly.
They do range of wonderful range of discrete speakers and subs that would do a decent job .
regards David
Posted on: 22 October 2007 by tonym
My wife's got one of those little Bose Soundbase thingies on the wall in her study. I must say it doesn't sound too bad at all. However, a characteristic of Bose sound is the way it initially grabs you & sounds really dynamic but you can rapidly get tired of the sound. OK for casual listening though. I notice they've just brought out a new model which is supposed to sound better.
Posted on: 22 October 2007 by Jono 13
quote:Originally posted by DAVOhorn:
What about going Bang and Olufsen their ICE amp modules are all the rage and their stuff looks georgeous and sounds pretty fair.
Way beyond BOSE etc .
Seriously go and look at their stuff.
Stunning aesthetics and very wife friendly.
They do range of wonderful range of discrete speakers and subs that would do a decent job .
regards David
Check out the Beosound 4as it can record to SD card.
Jono
Posted on: 22 October 2007 by Paul Hutchings
Does anyone know of any Onkyo dealers in the Midlands?
The Onkyo looks ideal but it would be nice to try before buying.
Shanling - Each to their own but it looks terrible!
B&O - I did have a listen to a Beosound1, it's physically a bit too tall and reminds me of an oil-filled radiator, plus I didn't rate the sound. The other systems are too expensive and of course I'm after a "single box" solution.
Seems to be between the Bose and the Onkyo unless I've missed a contender?
The Onkyo looks ideal but it would be nice to try before buying.
Shanling - Each to their own but it looks terrible!
B&O - I did have a listen to a Beosound1, it's physically a bit too tall and reminds me of an oil-filled radiator, plus I didn't rate the sound. The other systems are too expensive and of course I'm after a "single box" solution.
Seems to be between the Bose and the Onkyo unless I've missed a contender?
Posted on: 22 October 2007 by Stephen Tate
Hi'
I run an Arcam Solo in a second setup - It's surprisingly very good for what it is.
I think it's way better than the Linn!
Regards, Steve
I run an Arcam Solo in a second setup - It's surprisingly very good for what it is.
I think it's way better than the Linn!
Regards, Steve
Posted on: 22 October 2007 by Richard S
Very happy with the Linn Classik that runs in our conservatory through Tukans. It doesn't do everything that my main system does but it does play music. For the asking price I think it is nigh on unbeatable. Tuner is quite good too.
HTH
Regards
Richard S
HTH
Regards
Richard S
Posted on: 23 October 2007 by Jono 13
Denon?
Jono
Jono
Posted on: 23 October 2007 by London Lad
This sounds good and fits your 'brick' style. Its mono BTW !
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/page.asp?id=32
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/page.asp?id=32
Posted on: 23 October 2007 by Paul Hutchings
Had a listen to a Meridian F80 today.
Really, seriously impressed but of course it's in isolation, I've no idea how it would compare to, say, a Bose plus the DAB module.
You'd have thought this would be quite easy wouldn't you!
Really, seriously impressed but of course it's in isolation, I've no idea how it would compare to, say, a Bose plus the DAB module.
You'd have thought this would be quite easy wouldn't you!
Posted on: 23 October 2007 by u5227470736789439
Dear Paul,
In my experience, unless you really want to waste time comparing kit, listening in absolute isolation at a dem is the only way to make a decision. Comparative dems almost always yield a poor choice. If a set is good in isolation [ie. you like it] then get it home to dem, and if you like it go back with the money.
Then the issue becomes very simple indeed.
Bye for now from George!
In my experience, unless you really want to waste time comparing kit, listening in absolute isolation at a dem is the only way to make a decision. Comparative dems almost always yield a poor choice. If a set is good in isolation [ie. you like it] then get it home to dem, and if you like it go back with the money.
Then the issue becomes very simple indeed.
Bye for now from George!
Posted on: 23 October 2007 by Macker
Denon do a really good CX3 stereo system....I mean REALLY good...Hasn't been a huge seller here in NZ (probably due to it's high price) but it is a fine piece of engineering, small and tasty to look at in the flesh & a quality of musical reproduction that is worthy of mention here.
Posted on: 23 October 2007 by PJT
Paul,
IMHO you would be totally wasting your time with BOSE. It is absolutely dire once you get over the initial bright sounds, that actually seem to sound OK.
The trouble is that there is no BASS whatsoever, just a muddled rumble from their so called sub woofer.
I spent an hour in a bose store a few weeks ago ,killing time waiting for a plane. After the salesman telling me that bose had more acoustic engineers than any other company, eventually conceeded that bose was really about lifestyle and marketing. In fact he all but showed me the door after a few searching questions, and the knowledge of my Naim ownership
IMHO you would be totally wasting your time with BOSE. It is absolutely dire once you get over the initial bright sounds, that actually seem to sound OK.
The trouble is that there is no BASS whatsoever, just a muddled rumble from their so called sub woofer.
I spent an hour in a bose store a few weeks ago ,killing time waiting for a plane. After the salesman telling me that bose had more acoustic engineers than any other company, eventually conceeded that bose was really about lifestyle and marketing. In fact he all but showed me the door after a few searching questions, and the knowledge of my Naim ownership
Posted on: 24 October 2007 by Paul Hutchings
It's looking like the Meridian F80.
I set out really not wanting to spend that much, but however much I look it seems to tick all the right boxes regards features/functionality.
Does anyone here have one?
Admittedly I had around 20 minutes to listen/play with the one yesterday, but owner feedback would be useful (I've found a Meridian forum with a lengthy thread on them).
I set out really not wanting to spend that much, but however much I look it seems to tick all the right boxes regards features/functionality.
Does anyone here have one?
Admittedly I had around 20 minutes to listen/play with the one yesterday, but owner feedback would be useful (I've found a Meridian forum with a lengthy thread on them).
Posted on: 24 October 2007 by jayd
There are a couple of videos of Bob Stuart showing off the F80 insides on youtube.
Posted on: 24 October 2007 by KenM
The little Denon D-M35 DAB, with a pair of wall-mounted Piega TS3 speakers. Superb quality and style for about £1000. I haven't heard it myself but my wife has, and raves about it,
Ken
Ken
Posted on: 24 October 2007 by David Sutton
Paul,
Our F80 is used in the kitchen. We use it mainly for CD replay and the radio. The whole household is very pleased with it (ie WAF is good). So it plays everything from opera, orchestral through to the teenage faves of the kids. We have not tinkered with all its variations on set up. It sits on the corner of our butchers block and just delivers the goods. We would like to use it as the basis of a system to take travelling with us, but are not so sure about how rubust it would be (despite weighing 6kg+).
Dinky remote is a beaut.
Could post a photo but it would only show you that it is white!
David
Our F80 is used in the kitchen. We use it mainly for CD replay and the radio. The whole household is very pleased with it (ie WAF is good). So it plays everything from opera, orchestral through to the teenage faves of the kids. We have not tinkered with all its variations on set up. It sits on the corner of our butchers block and just delivers the goods. We would like to use it as the basis of a system to take travelling with us, but are not so sure about how rubust it would be (despite weighing 6kg+).
Dinky remote is a beaut.
Could post a photo but it would only show you that it is white!
David
Posted on: 25 October 2007 by Paul Hutchings
Thanks David and Jayd, had a look at the videos and there's no need for pics as I've seen one and there's enough on the web.
I've been thinking/plotting and it occurred to me that as I have an Airport Express I could use that to feed the F80 a 100% digital signal and let its DAC do the Donkey work?
I've been thinking/plotting and it occurred to me that as I have an Airport Express I could use that to feed the F80 a 100% digital signal and let its DAC do the Donkey work?