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In Reply to: RE: Just rule out... posted by cawson@onetel.com on April 09, 2025 at 03:58:18
but your comment about all-in-ones needs questioning.
We do, however, agree that all-in-ones offer two real advantages:
1. Cheap
2. Compact
Which are important considerations for the garage system. I'm happy using a $230 Chi-Fi Fosi integrated/DAC fed by an RPi3 streamer.
I am not, however, faced with either compromise in the main system. My budget supports better and space is a non-issue in that 25'x16' room.
The obvious advantages is that there are no interconnects involved...
I find that low EDC cabling works well as my components were designed for use with balanced connections.
there's no need for multiple power supplies
The LAST THING I would ever want to do is locate high energy 500 joule power supplies within inches of a high gain phono preamp. Much less cheap, high RFI switch mode units. My DAC alone has separate power supplies for the digital and analog sections. Isolation is most certainly a good thing.
Also, a multi-box system always has a weak link that one is looking to upgrade - leading to a fresh weak link.
This makes no sense at all as the situation exists for every component over time. The key difference, however, is how much needs to be replaced in order to benefit.
I continue to use power amps purchased in 2001. No need to replace them as I've upgraded the preamp and digital front end components.
I continue to use a preamp purchased in 2014. No need to replace it as I've upgraded the digital front end components.
I continue to use a DAC purchased (used) in 2016. No need to replace the streamer.
Over the past dozen years, streamers have indeed changed quite a bit. I've enjoyed taking advantage of multiple higher performance levels without have to throw the baby out with the bath water! Which you have done four times since then!
for those with genuinely full-range main speakers and who want to add subs to minimise room effects
Lucky lad that I am, my dedicated room has nearly Golden Ratios. With careful speaker and bass trap placement, I get remarkably flat measured in-room response to 25 hz. Plot available in gallery. Subs unnecessary. They are, however, implemented in the HT with the smaller stats where I've likewise enjoyed the benefits of separates. I'm on my third processor given the changes in HDMI and introduction of ATMOS while continuing to use the same power amp purchased in 2011.
Not everyone shares the compromises you face. To each his own guvnor. :)
If I invested in the piles of boxes you have in the photos and that includes vinyl, I'd have little left for the main event - the loudspeakers.
My priority is ultimate excitement-factor when listening to music and that means exceptional speakers. I have zero interest in cluttering up my room (not a dedicated listening room) with audio junk. My audio junk consists of a single box, plus a pair of full-range speakers - no subs (the ones I have aren't connected and will be sold), no shelves sagging under the wight of 1000s of albums and CDs - it's all in the cloud for a small subscription and much of it at better quality.
My garage is used to house my car when not in use, and my tools and other non-audio junk that I wouldn't want in the house, but perhaps this word has also lost its true meaning after crossing the Pond! ;-)
My priority is ultimate excitement-factor when listening to music and that means exceptional speakers.Agree entirely. More than half of system investment.
I try to minimize clutter in the family room where the HT lives. Processor and Roku live on floating shelf while power amp and BR player are found in hidden closet behind pictures near right speaker. Cables go through floor and back wall. Power outlet for stats on floor behind each. Surrounds mounted on wall and kitchen column with cables similarly hidden.
My digital library of audio and video alike lives in a toaster sized NAS.
My garage is used to house my car when not in use, and my tools and other non-audio junk that I wouldn't want in the house,
Same here. I enjoy listening to music while there. :)
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Edits: 04/09/25 04/09/25
"More than half of system investment."
Mine is more like 70% and that is appropriate in these days of tiny circuit boards and chips that actually cost far less than the cases they are installed into - or even the cables needed to connect these boxes.
As long as you are happy with your collection of single-use boxes and snake-pit of cables, and I am happy with my single box (and hence very costly speakers), we should both be very content.
with the musical transparency of the main system. Better always exists (say U990s driven by Siegfried IIs ) but it satisfies my listening priorities.
And enjoy having met Dr. West and Luke Manley to discuss the perspectives behind the wonderful handbuilt products I've enjoyed for twenty years. :)
What about Ethernet? The Roon Nucleus streamer connects to the KEF LS60 and Ayre QX-5/20 DAC via Ethernet. Am I missing something?
Yours is a "streaming DAC" so cabling between those otherwise separate parts is internal.
Similarly, my media server is connected to Sonore endpoint via ethernet but requires short USB cable to connect to DAC.
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