Impossible Task? One Box

[TomLewis17]

Hi,

First time posting so please excuse my ignorance if this has been asked before.

I'm currently looking for a 1 box solution ideally, to improve my Hifi experience. I'm currently running a Pro-Ject TT through a Rega Fono Mini into a Sonos ERA100. This is so that I can play music from TT in that room only or through the whole house as I have Sonos in 2 other rooms.

My wife doesn't like a lot of wires and and reducing the amount of components in the system will reduce this. My Budget is about £1000 for new components so I've been looking at the Technic's SA-600, Eversolo Play CD. I would still be getting a Sonos port so that I can connect to the rest of my system. As well as collecting vinyl I still have a lot of CD's mainly rock, metal & hip hop, hence why choosing the 2 mentioned earlier.

Is there any better solutions that I haven't thought of? Wiim ultra amp (but doesn't have a CD player). I haven't chosen speakers to go in the room where the TT is, but it's not a big room at 3.5m x 3.5m so would be bookshelf speakers. Once I know the amp for the speakers I can then go and demo.

Any help on suggestions is greatly appreciated.

 

[nopiano]

Welcome to the WHF forum!

That is not exactly what I thought you meant by a one box solution! But the Technics and Eversolo are the only two amp/streamer/CD devices that come to mind. I daresay there are others, but these two are often mentioned.

One box to me is the Naim Muso or the Cambridge Evo One, where both contain speakers. Another possibility might be KEF LSX wireless speakers, which have inputs for a CD player, but the amps are built in. Of course, wireless means they connect to your internet wirelessly, because both speakers require mains cables!

Wire free hifi is like an honest politician, it’s an oxymoron. 😉

 

[RoA]

There is the Audiolab Omnia for around £1k. Great amplifier. I use amongst others a 6000A and Cdt transport, which is kinda what you get in one box with the Omnia.

The only problem for me would be the streaming platform. It works but according to reviews is far from the most intuitive and not a patch on say the one from WiiM.

The amplifier itself is probably better than any of the options you've mentioned. I've heard mixed reviews about the WiiM and Eversolo amplification but could you live with Audiolab streaming app?

Audiolab Omnia (Black)

Shop for Audiolab Omnia (Black) Streaming Music System with Richer Sounds for expert advice and lowest prices guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

OMNIA ALL-IN-ONE FROM AUDIOLAB

Flooded with built-in features, Paul Rigby gets to grips with a gamut of choice from this all-in-one system, the Omnia

theaudiophileman.com

 

[TomLewis17]

Welcome to the WHaf forum!

That is not exactly what I thought you meant by a one box solution! But the Technics and Eversolo are the only two amp/streamer/CD devices that come to mind. I daresay there are others, but these two are often mentioned.

One box to me is the Naim Muso or the Cambridge Evo One, where both contain speakers. Another possibility might be KEF LSX wireless speakers, which have inputs for a CD player, but the amps are built in. Of course, wireless means they connect to your internet wirelessly, because both speakers require mains cables!

Wire free hifi is like an honest politician, it’s an oxymoron. 😉

Thank you for your reply. Sorry if the title is a little confusing. I could go active speakers and plug in the TT but I feel that this would limit my choice of speaker.

😆"Wire free hifi is like an honest politician."

 

[TomLewis17]

There is the Audiolab Omnia for around £1k. Great amplifier. I use amongst others a 6000A and Cdt transport, which is kinda what you get in one box with the Omnia.

The only problem for me would be the streaming platform. It works but according to reviews is far from the most intuitive and not a patch on say the one from WiiM.

The amplifier itself is probably better than any of the options you've mentioned. I've heard mixed reviews about the WiiM and Eversolo amplification but could you live with Audiolab streaming app?

Audiolab Omnia (Black)

Shop for Audiolab Omnia (Black) Streaming Music System with Richer Sounds for expert advice and lowest prices guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

OMNIA ALL-IN-ONE FROM AUDIOLAB

Flooded with built-in features, Paul Rigby gets to grips with a gamut of choice from this all-in-one system, the Omnia

theaudiophileman.com

Thank you for the suggestion, this didn't come up when searching richer sounds, unless I'm not looking correctly. Adding to my list. I tend to use whichever app on my phone to select whichever room I'm in. I'm sure it can't be any worse than the sonos app.😆

 

[RoA]

https://www.whathifi.com/advice/dts-play-fi-everything-you-need-to-know

 

[daytona600]

Elipson Music Centre

https://en.elipson.com/product-page/music-center-connect-hd

 

[Jasonovich]

You mentioned the Eversolo Play CD in your opening thread, I think this will be the least obtrusive and has the missus factor like a smart phone interface which she'll find easy to use and intuitive.
It also allows you to connect your turntable MM or MC, which is a big plus.

The cables will be an eye sore but I'm sure you can apply some creativity. In my lounge I have my cables running behind the skirting board and speakers connected directly to termination wall plates.
The Elac Debut speakers are not difficult to drive and should work OK with the Eversolo Play 🙂

6 things I learned testing a CD-playing, music-streaming amplifier from this modern hi-fi brand

These features make an enticing first impression

www.whathifi.com

 

[jjbomber]

Eversolo Play CD.

You've answered your own question!

Welcome to the forum.

 

[matthewpianist]

I bought an Omnia when they went half price last year, and my dad did also. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it, and neither would my dad.

It sounds pleasant enough, but not actually as good as the 6000A and a little weedy overall. Whilst the general build quality is excellent, the CD tray is the flimsiest I have ever seen, though I suspect the LG/Toshiba CD-ROM drive on the Eversolo Play is even more so. The display is a bit of a gimmick to my mind, because it doesn't display album artwork, and the VU meter options look quite basic. DTS Play-Fi isn't as awful as some make out, but it's a long way off Eversolo, Wiim, Bluesound or even the proprietary approaches used by Technics, Yamaha (MusicCast) and Denon/Marantz (HEOS). It is better than Arcam's current app overall.

If it has to be an all-in-one, the Technics is very hard to beat overall. It doesn't have the best of streaming provisions, but you could easily add a WiiM Mini if you want a better experience without adding more than you need to. I'm surprised there aren't more options around these days, but there seems to be a general reluctance to include CD playback, and where it is included it can be quite half-hearted. Sorry this is quite negative overall, but I don't see any point in gilding the situation.

 

[TomLewis17]

Thank you for your comments matthewpianist. I appreciate your time to respond as with the others above.

I feel that it's either full on separates or amp & streamer combined, with like you say very little in-between. I know that it's an aesthetic thing rather than pure sound and unless I increase my budget to QUAD/ NAIM levels I can't see many other options at this price point.

Trip to Richer Sounds Bank Holiday Monday it seems.

 

[Jasonovich]

Thank you for your comments matthewpianist. I appreciate your time to respond as with the others above.

I feel that it's either full on separates or amp & streamer combined, with like you say very little in-between. I know that it's an aesthetic thing rather than pure sound and unless I increase my budget to QUAD/ NAIM levels I can't see many other options at this price point.

Trip to Richer Sounds Bank Holiday Monday it seems.

Don't let Richer Sounds sell you any cables! 🤣 🤣

 

[matthewpianist]

No amount of spiel could justify that!

 

[TomLewis17]

Don't let Richer Sounds sell you any cables! 🤣 🤣

View attachment 9770

😳 I have been looking at Chord cables but not that version.

 

[Jasonovich]

This might work, it has phono connection for your TT, you just need to add WiiM Ultra (£349).
Not one box but a nice compromise and well within your budget.

There's also the WiiM Ultra Amp £499, which takes you back to one box solution but it doesn't have phono connection.

Both require separate CD Player.

 

[Jasonovich]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh they stock the PLAY!!
Sorry, acting like a kid 🤣

 

[matthewpianist]

If you want the best balance between compactness, connectivity and sound, the WiiM Ultra streamer and Vibelink amp is a great combination. You'll still need to add a CD player, but you could consider one of the Project ones, which are nice and small.

 

[jjbomber]

If you want the best balance between compactness, connectivity and sound, the WiiM Ultra streamer and Vibelink amp is a great combination. You'll still need to add a CD player, but you could consider one of the Project ones, which are nice and small.

Having trouble with your maths?
(''I'm currently looking for a 1 box solution ideally'')

 

[matthewpianist]

Having trouble with your maths?
(''I'm currently looking for a 1 box solution ideally'')

Having trouble reading?
🙂

I've already been through the one-box market, and there isn't much to fulfil the op's needs, so a compact two-box might be the best way forward. These suggestions take up less space than something like an Audiolab Omnia anyway.

 

[TomLewis17]

Having trouble reading?
🙂

I've already been through the one-box market, and there isn't much to fulfil the op's needs, so a compact two-box might be the best way forward. These suggestions take up less space than something like an Audiolab Omnia anyway.

This was where I was struggling. I know Pro-Ject do there own Wiim integrated streaming amp I think it's the BOX S3 but I didn't think the power output was that great, With the Wiim AMP Ultra being more powerful and cheaper. Like you say I could just add a Pro-Ject/ Ruark/ Tangent CD player to it. Or Active speakers, again adding a compact/ mini CD player. Will need to take wife to get the sign off on this idea. 😆

 

[jjbomber]

Having trouble reading?
🙂

I've already been through the one-box market, and there isn't much to fulfil the op's needs, so a compact two-box might be the best way forward.

Wiim Ultra + Vibelink amp + CD Player is three boxes!