NO

[manicm]

I agree with the piece, but not the component in the cheaper system mentioned at the end, specifically the Cambridge MXN10.

Like new cars being provided with atrocious HVAC controls, why don't hifi makers provide physical remote controls anymore??? Especially in a system with an active speaker as the heart. I will NEVER buy the MXN10 streamer in a hifi context where I sit on the couch and listen to music - because I'm forced to use the phone for volume control and simple play/pause. The MXN10 will not work with any physical remote control. If I need to quickly adjust the volume or pause, I do NOT want to have to pick up the phone, unlock it, and then faff.

Please stop this nonsense, add even 50 quid to the price but stop insulting the customer.

Coming back to the piece though, we need more actives like the Acoustic Energy AE1, and I hope they add a second, slightly larger and more powerful model. Cambridge also did good with the MXW70 amp, but why stop at the inevitable desktop?

Between all-in-ones and hi-fi separates sits the most logical system solution of all, so why isn’t it more popular?

It nails the balance between performance and convenience better than any alternative

www.whathifi.com

 

[Gray]

If I need to quickly adjust the volume or pause, I do NOT want to have to pick up the phone, unlock it, and then faff.

Neither do I.
The less a phone needs to be involved (with anything) the better.
No way should control of volume ever be relying solely on an app - and it never will be for me.

 

[jjbomber]

Please stop this nonsense, add even 50 quid to the price but stop insulting the customer.

Optional extra at £50 might be better. Those who already have 10 remote controls on their armrest might not want an 11th. OK, they still have to subsidise the cost of adding the receiver element into the unit, but at least they don't have another remote control that they don't use.

 

[record_spot]

I think the Audiolab streamer from a few years ago - the 6000N was it? - had no display and also relied on 100% app functionality.

The Wiim Pro Plus that I use comes with a remote, but has an excellent app interface too, to the point that I bypass the remote entirely.

 

[matthewpianist]

The only part of my system there's an app for (regardless of which combination of equipment I'm using) is my streamer. The Eversolo app is very good for exploring music on Qobuz and Presto Music, but outside that it's all old-skool, and a lot of the time I don't even use a remote control.

 

[RoA]

Us oldies (me included) prefer manual volume controlling ie. 'a knob' but most youngen's don't give a hoot about that and are so used ... using their phones for everything. It's the way things are going and have been for a while. Luckily some manufacturers still include token gesture remotes even if there is a decent app.

 

[Revolutions]

When I bought my preamp ex-display the shop forgot to give me the remote. It does at least have a dial on the unit, but agreed: using the app as the remote control for basic tasks was a horrid experience.

 

[Dave_]

Google/Alexa/Siri "volume up/down" or "volume to x %" or "volume to level x" or "pause" or "play album/artist/playlist/podcast/radio station on device name"

No phones or remotes required....

 

[Gray]

Google/Alexa/Siri "volume up/down" or "volume to x %" or "volume to level x" or "pause" or "play album/artist/playlist/podcast/radio station on device name"

No phones or remotes required....

No voice assistants required by me thanks.
(Though some day I probably won't have a choice 🤨)

 

[Revolutions]

Google/Alexa/Siri "volume up/down" or "volume to x %" or "volume to level x" or "pause" or "play album/artist/playlist/podcast/radio station on device name"

No phones or remotes required....

I have my WiFi plugs setup on voice: Siri, turn on stereo/guitar/computer is spoken by me many times a day 😃