Best set-up for streaming mostly classical music?

[Oozlumbird]

Hi. I'm a classical musician and have just bought an Evo One from Cambridge Audio as I'm mostly streaming now. I find hifi shops quite daunting so stupidly I bought this on the basis of great reviews. Also I used to have a Cambridge Audio Air200 which was a great little speaker for a much lower price point, and I assumed the Evo One would be proportionately better.

I don't know very much about audio set-ups these days, but I'd really appreciate some advice on whether to send this back, or whether I'm being overly fussy. I'm finding the bass too heavy, the treble weak and the middle very woolly and undefined. The EQ isn't really making enough difference. This is probably nearing the top of my budget at £1300 but I've found the sound quality underwhelming and the reaction in the household (all musicians) to be 'meh'. It looks great and is easy to use, which is a bit of a factor, but sound quality is really important to us, and this has been quite a disappointment as (for me anyway) this is a lot of money to spend.

Is this the best quality sound I can get from streaming at this price point? Or can anyone recommend a better set-up, especially for classical music (the only thing that's sounded great so far on the Evo One has been electronica, which isn't surprising as it's digitally produced in the first place).

If I decide to send this back, what should I try out as an alternative?

Thanks so much.

 

[Oozlumbird]

What are your speakers?
What, if anything, has sounded better through them?

Hi there It's the Evo One, which is an all-in-one unit from Cambridge Audio:

Cambridge Audio Evo One All-in-One Wireless Streaming Speaker

Contemporary Elegance: Stunning design, seamless functionalityRoom-Filling Sound: 14 speakers deliver 700W of breathtaking clarity and deep, controlled bassStream Your Music: Play wirelessly from Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, Internet Radio and moreHi-Res Audio: Supports up to 32-bit 192kHzHome...

www.cambridgeaudio.com

Before that I had another all-in-one from them, the Air 200, which was fine for just casual home listening in the kitchen
The hifi I had before that was for use with a CD player, and that was a pretty good sound: Celestion 7 speakers, Denon amp and Marantz CD player, but these are now 20-30 years old!
I haven't spent any real money on streaming gear until now (I realise £1300 is a pretty low budget in the big scheme of things, but it's my top end!), and I just don't know if I can actually afford anything at all that I would consider to be a great sound. Absolutely willing to look at separates instead, but I just don't know where to start.
Worth adding that I teach piano up to 12 hours a day so there's every possibility it's my ears that are duff rather than the sound quality, but my musician son and partner are not impressed with the Evo
One either.
Cheers!

 

[DougK1]

Lifestyle products are nice due to their footprint but separates can't be beaten. You should be able to pick up a decent sounding system for £1300. My first Marantz system was £700 twelve years ago, including speakers. Prices have increased but not double the price yet.

Do you still have the Denon amp and speakers?

 

[DougK1]

And you're not being overly fussy.
As a musical family, you might have a higher appreciation of what's right or wrong, but anybody would be disappointed with the sound you've described.

You're probably aware of the large influence speakers (and their positioning) have on sound quality....so is it the Celestions that you're using for the Evo?

It's an all in one system, Gray, including integrated speakers, according to the blurb it has 14 speakers in the unit!

 

[Gray]

It's an all in one system, Gray, including integrated speakers, according to the blurb it has 14 speakers in the unit!

Oh thanks Doug, I was thinking it was one of the original two Evo 'just add speakers' models - I should've looked at the link the OP posted 🙄
In that case, all bets are off as far as sound quality is concerned.
Regardless of what the reviews say, it's obviously unsuitable for him ☹️
(And if the sound is as he's described, I'd say it's not suitable for anyone).

 

[Gray]

....I'd really appreciate some advice on whether to send this back, or whether I'm being overly fussy.

You're not being overly fussy.
Now that I've been put straight on the nature of the unit, I've got no hesitation telling you to send it back while you can.

 

[SallyB]

What did you used to play your classical music through before the Cambridge? Were you happy with it?

I’m not surprised that as a musician you are less than satisfied with what you’ve bought. It is always often a goal to try and replicate that live sound, but you are going to struggle to find it with an all in one system like this and will probably never achieve it with separates either; only a different sound, but one which when chosen carefully, can still nevertheless deliver immense satisfaction and delight.

It seems unlikely that you would ever be satisfied with a product of the type you have and I would echo the view about sending it back and possibly saving up for a while to get you something that will at least give you as a minimum some good stand alone speakers with all the benefits they can offer such as better soundstage, dynamics and detail.

If you decide to go down the ‘separates ’ route, there will be no shortage of suggestions from people on here!😀

 

[BigH]

Hi. I'm a classical musician and have just bought an Evo One from Cambridge Audio as I'm mostly streaming now. I find hifi shops quite daunting so stupidly I bought this on the basis of great reviews. Also I used to have a Cambridge Audio Air200 which was a great little speaker for a much lower price point, and I assumed the Evo One would be proportionately better.

I don't know very much about audio set-ups these days, but I'd really appreciate some advice on whether to send this back, or whether I'm being overly fussy. I'm finding the bass too heavy, the treble weak and the middle very woolly and undefined. The EQ isn't really making enough difference. This is probably nearing the top of my budget at £1300 but I've found the sound quality underwhelming and the reaction in the household (all musicians) to be 'meh'. It looks great and is easy to use, which is a bit of a factor, but sound quality is really important to us, and this has been quite a disappointment as (for me anyway) this is a lot of money to spend.

Is this the best quality sound I can get from streaming at this price point? Or can anyone recommend a better set-up, especially for classical music (the only thing that's sounded great so far on the Evo One has been electronica, which isn't surprising as it's digitally produced in the first place).

If I decide to send this back, what should I try out as an alternative?

Thanks so much.

Send it back. If you buy used separates you will get far better sound. Even a budget system should be far better.

 

[matthewpianist]

If you opt for a Bluesound streamer, you will be able to access the full range of services in excellent sound, including the Presto Music streaming service. I have to declare an interest here as I am Product Manager for classical music at Presto, but for someone with musical interests focused around classical and jazz music it's very hard to match. It has also been integrated into Eversolo products.

If you resolutely wish to stick with a new amp, I'd suggest the Rotel A8 is about as good as it gets without wading into big money. As for speakers, Dali is your best bet if you want to buy new - the Oberon 3s if you can accommodate them.

In light of what I have said in this post, any equipment suggestions are my own and not representative of the company.

 

[RJW232]

If you like the looks of the EVO One and the way to operate it, I can recommend an EVO 150 with a pair of good speakers. I'm afraid you have to go to the HIFI shop to select the speakers. Since you're a classical musician you know how music and instruments really sounds, so you can teach the sales people in the shop how a good system should sound.