Cambridge Audio EVO150 or Naim Uniti Atom

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Which would you buy, and why….?

 

[davidf]

Neither.

I see all-in-one solutions as a one box compromise. They’re there for those that don’t want a number of boxes or associated cabling. I get that. In general, buyers of these systems aren’t usually audiophiles.

Even though you’d think a one box system would be great at everything, it’s usually a Jack of all trades, and a master of none as it will be built to hit a certain price point. Everything is bundled into one box, sharing the same power supply, and there’ll always be something missing, you never seem to get the full package. Because they’re a compromise, you also never really seem to get a dog’s doodahs amplifier, likely because there’s not enough room inside the box for a huge transformer and output capacitors. Class D is the growing trend for this, but there’s Class D and there’s Class D.

Personally, I’d rather buy a proper amplifier that has streaming capabilities. They may not have as many features as one box solutions, but if they cover what you need, they’re a better option, and will usually allow higher quality (more demanding) loudspeakers to be used successfully. failing that, a separate amplifier and streamer.

 

[DiggyGun]

Neither.

I see all-in-one solutions as a one box compromise. They’re there for those that don’t want a number of boxes or associated cabling. I get that. In general, buyers of these systems aren’t usually audiophiles.

Even though you’d think a one box system would be great at everything, it’s usually a Jack of all trades, and a master of none as it will be built to hit a certain price point. Everything is bundled into one box, sharing the same power supply, and there’ll always be something missing, you never seem to get the full package. Because they’re a compromise, you also never really seem to get a dog’s doodahs amplifier, likely because there’s not enough room inside the box for a huge transformer and output capacitors. Class D is the growing trend for this, but there’s Class D and there’s Class D.

Personally, I’d rather buy a proper amplifier that has streaming capabilities. They may not have as many features as one box solutions, but if they cover what you need, they’re a better option, and will usually allow higher quality (more demanding) loudspeakers to be used successfully. failing that, a separate amplifier and streamer.

Looking at the prices of the Linn and Naim all in one systems would suggest that the users are audiophiles.

DG…

 

[podknocker]

All in one boxes are not a compromise, if done properly. Evo 75 or Evo 150 and Naim Uniti kit, Eversolo etc. Good PSUs, thoughtful layout and they deliver on sound, according to the reviews. Class D has changed the HIFI landscape. Cool, efficient and taking up little space, unlike Class A/B designs with massive PSUs, caps and other stuff.

 

[Al ears]

Looking at the prices of the Linn and Naim all in one systems would suggest that the users are audiophiles.

DG…

Do they come with a price tag now??

 

[davidf]

Looking at the prices of the Linn and Naim all in one systems would suggest that the users are audiophiles.

DG…

They’re lifestyle systems. These systems are produced to get more users interested in the brands, so that they’ll potentially upgrade to a better system when they realise the shortcomings of the one they’ve bought, which then gets relegated to a secondary place in the house. They also appeal to users who might already have some full multi-box stack from the manufacturer, as they’ll buy one as a second system in the house.

 

[DiggyGun]

They’re lifestyle systems. These systems are produced to get more users interested in the brands, so that they’ll potentially upgrade to a better system when they realise the shortcomings of the one they’ve bought, which then gets relegated to a secondary place in the house. They also appeal to users who might already have some full multi-box stack from the manufacturer, as they’ll buy one as a second system in the house.

I don’t think you can call a DSM at £35k and speakers at £89k a lifestyle choice.

If you do, glad that you can afford it.

DG…

 

[DiggyGun]

Do they come with a price tag now??

Yes, but you need to be sitting down.

DG…

 

[podknocker]

I don’t think you can call a DSM at £35k and speakers at £89k a lifestyle choice.

If you do, glad that you can afford it.

DG…

Haha! I'd love this lifestyle. These designs are massively compromised, however. What you need is 10 boxes full of fresh air! You can then waste even more cash on several overpriced interconnects. They must think we're all daft.

 

[davidf]

I don’t think you can call a DSM at £35k and speakers at £89k a lifestyle choice.

If you do, glad that you can afford it.

DG…

Linn have gone full lifestyle now, they’re no longer the company they used to be.

 

[nopiano]

Which would you buy, and why….?

Well, your signature says you already have the EVO150, so do you have any misgivings?

PS. The Yamaha R-N2000A looks very nice, but I haven’t heard one.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

Well, your signature says you already have the EVO150, so do you have any misgivings?

PS. The Yamaha R-N2000A looks very nice, but I haven’t heard one.

My local dealer suggested the NAIM would wipe the floor with the EVO….
I‘m genuinely interested in which people would choose and why….
(In all fairness the EVO and DALI combo is very satisfying in my wee snug where I listen…..)

 

[nopiano]

My local dealer suggested the NAIM would wipe the floor with the EVO….
I‘m genuinely interested in which people would choose and why….
(In all fairness the EVO and DALI combo is very satisfying in my wee snug where I listen…..)

Well, I’d expect no less from a Naim dealer. It’s easy to be sniffy when they are selling stuff made in Salisbury, and to put down a very good design mass-produced in China. At a discounted £2300 for 40 watts per channel, it doesn’t look so strong against the Cambridge for £1999 or less , but each will have admirers.

I would need to hear them side by side at home, and you might prefer the ergonomics more than the sound.

 

[podknocker]

Linn have gone full lifestyle now, they’re no longer the company they used to be.

Yet their prices are. If their devices are now 'lifestyle' devices, how much does lifestyle cost? If they put more stuff into fewer boxes, then surely this would bring material costs down and give them a more efficient and streamlined production method. Linn and Naim are way overpriced for what you get. In all seriousness, has nobody seen the £35000 price tag and not thought 'Hmmm, they are really taking the piss now' £35k to stream and amplify music files?

 

[manicm]

Linn have gone full lifestyle now, they’re no longer the company they used to be.

I disagree,

Neither.

I see all-in-one solutions as a one box compromise. They’re there for those that don’t want a number of boxes or associated cabling. I get that. In general, buyers of these systems aren’t usually audiophiles.

Even though you’d think a one box system would be great at everything, it’s usually a Jack of all trades, and a master of none as it will be built to hit a certain price point. Everything is bundled into one box, sharing the same power supply, and there’ll always be something missing, you never seem to get the full package. Because they’re a compromise, you also never really seem to get a dog’s doodahs amplifier, likely because there’s not enough room inside the box for a huge transformer and output capacitors. Class D is the growing trend for this, but there’s Class D and there’s Class D.

Personally, I’d rather buy a proper amplifier that has streaming capabilities. They may not have as many features as one box solutions, but if they cover what you need, they’re a better option, and will usually allow higher quality (more demanding) loudspeakers to be used successfully. failing that, a separate amplifier and streamer.

A proper amplifier with streaming capabilities, especially network ones, are what you're accusing of calling as lifestyle systems. Naim and NAD, for example, make a number of them in their Uniti range and amps with plugin modules respectively.

The CA Evo range employs very respectable Class D modules, Hypex I believe.

 

[jjbomber]

Loving this thread. Simple question, should I choose A or B? The answers so far have been C, D, E, F, G H and I.

 

[podknocker]

Loving this thread. Simple question, should I choose A or B? The answers so far have been C, D, E, F, G H and I.

Evo150 every time. More power, Class D so cool and efficient, better connectivity and cheaper. If the Evo150 or Evo 75 didn't exist, I'd go for the Roksan Attessa. Naim make 2 Uniti Atoms, one for speakers and one for headphones. What nonsense. They can't put a decent headphone amp in the normal one and cover all bases? If you look at the Naim models and ranges, it's becoming so confusing. Cambridge have the Evo75 and Evo150 and I would have bought the Evo150 if I'd not got a decent trade in deal on my Audiolab Omnia.

 

[davidf]

I disagree,

A proper amplifier with streaming capabilities, especially network ones, are what you're accusing of calling as lifestyle systems.

No, I’m not.

 

[davidf]

Loving this thread. Simple question, should I choose A or B? The answers so far have been C, D, E, F, G H and I.

Neither

 

[davidf]

Yet their prices are. If their devices are now 'lifestyle' devices, how much does lifestyle cost? If they put more stuff into fewer boxes, then surely this would bring material costs down and give them a more efficient and streamlined production method. Linn and Naim are way overpriced for what you get. In all seriousness, has nobody seen the £35000 price tag and not thought 'Hmmm, they are really taking the piss now' £35k to stream and amplify music files?

A few companies have a slightly elevated idea of where they actually sit in the market, and price their equipment thusly. I can’t say I was particularly impressed by the last Linn system I heard - and neither was the guy I struck up a conversation with who also attended the event.