Decent Micro with wifi?

[Brentford Bob]

Morning all.

I'm looking for advice on buying a small all-in-one system for my Dad. CD is a must, as is access to internet radio via a wifi connection. Connection to an ipod/ipad would be a welcome bonus.

Budget is around £500 excluding speakers - what's out there?

Obviously I've had a look through the reviews but it's a bit tricky to tell what's wifi and what isn't..... :quest:

All advice gratefully received....

 

[Anonymous]

Does that mean you already have speakers; or have your eye on some he'd like?

i was in a similar situation recently, although without the dependency on cd. I chose to buy a small active studio monitor, and I run it in mixed-mono. Only buying one speaker, no amp lying around, it's small and cheap, and punchy. I run an iPad through it which gives me Internet radio, and all my cd (which I have stored on the iPad). The monitor I chose is a Yamaha, but there are many, and they are often not fussy about corner placement.

If it's for listening around the house, I'd recommend it, but if it's for serious listening, it might not be perfect. It's not my primary system, just in the kitchen.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Bob,

I'm using a Denon Ceol RCD N8 system myself and although I had some problems with it the first weeks (bad speaker connections and system kept turning of because of this, entirely my fault) , I'm now really happy with my purchase and can only recommend it.

I use wifi on the system to stream music from iTunes and to listen to internet radio (mainly 320kps). When internet traffic is very heavy I have the occasional drop-out but it usually picks up again within seconds, nothing major.

The system sounds great in my opinion, I use Castle speakers with it, it also charges my iPod and iPhone when in stand-by, it has a clear screen which displays all the radio station information or song information from iTunes, you can connect an iPad via usb and there are digital inputs to connect your tv or other devices and best of all, it's affordable (I paid £375 for it in a specialist store in Tottenham Court Road, London).

Hope this helped!

 

[Brentford Bob]

Cheers Guys. The Denon looks good - but does the lack of DAB mean a lack of Radio 4, Five Live etc? Or are they easily accessable on internet radio?

With reference to speakers, my Dad's wife wants something "as small as possible" so Q Acoustics 2010i's are probably the order of the day - I have a pair, along with a MS sub and that combo sounds pretty good to my ears!

 

[kev g]

How about a Teac CR-H500DNT -

Search the net for a good price.

 

[Anonymous]

Radio 4 and all other radio stations that also broadcast over the internet are very easily accesible with the Denon system. If you must have dab and don't need Airplay/iTunes, the Teac system suggested might be a better solution. It won't sound as good as the Denon though.

 

[BenLaw]

The other obvious option is the marantz mcr603.

 

[Anonymous]

The other obvious option is the marantz mcr603.

This!

It doesnt come with wifi built in but it DOES accept ethernet. I use a wireless ethernet bridge by Netgear: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-Universal-Wifi-Internet-Adapter/dp/B003VIWJYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359396772&sr=8-1

I listen to DAB and internet radio via this and it's never failed me; been a superb purchase

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

Slightly left field - but Audio Engine A2s with an Apple Airport Express, with TuneIN radio via iPad/iPhone Airplay? Assuming other functions (i.e. CD replay) isn't required?

EDIT: must stop being a top line skimmer - as CD is a must, forget my suggestion!

 

[BenLaw]

Double post.

 

[BenLaw]

Triple post. Fecking website.

 

[BenLaw]

Also another option using the marantz, of which chebby is a proponent, is accessing Internet radio via your phone with tunein pro and sending that via AirPlay.

 

[tim92gts]

Daughter has a Pure Avanti Flow (?) which is pretty amazing and does most of that.

You'll have to check the exact specs but the sound is good for a little box esp the bass.

Under £200 iirc.

If you're doing wifi would some small actives plus AEX and his iPad do?

Then use a basic cdp.

 

[tim92gts]

Daughter has a Pure Avanti Flow (?) which is pretty amazing and does most of that.

You'll have to check the exact specs but the sound is good for a little box esp the bass.

Under £200 iirc.

If you're doing wifi would some small actives plus AEX and his iPad do?

Then use a basic cdp.

Apologies; seems to be a problem with multiple posts today

 

[Anonymous]

Marantz M-CR603 Use ethernet and partner it with some superb small Kef R100's