Seperates vs All in One streamer…

[DoubleSix]

Hi chaps,

I currently have the following in my shopping basket:

- Cambridge Audio CX81
- Cambridge Audio CXN100
- Q Acoustics Concept 50

I haven’t bought hi-fi gear for far too long and am applying my old skool logic that separates are better than an all in one system and probably required to drive the speakers acceptably.

However…

The area i need to put this is a but restricted for spare space I have some shallow shelves otherwise it’s going to be a floor standing rack. I’m also very aware that my thinking may be out of date. Perhaps a high end all-in-one really will perform equally???

I’d welcome some sage advice. Do i stick with separates for fidelity or am i better served by a more modern approach?

[Narcisus]

DoubleSix said:

Hi chaps,

I currently have the following in my shopping basket:

- Cambridge Audio CX81
- Cambridge Audio CXN100
- Q Acoustics Concept 50

I haven’t bought hi-fi gear for far too long and am applying my old skool logic that separates are better than an all in one system and probably required to drive the speakers acceptably.

However…

The area i need to put this is a but restricted for spare space I have some shallow shelves otherwise it’s going to be a floor standing rack. I’m also very aware that my thinking may be out of date. Perhaps a high end all-in-one really will perform equally???

I’d welcome some sage advice. Do i stick with separates for fidelity or am i better served by a more modern approach?

Have a look at KEF LSX and LS50 … I was strapped for space in a very small room and went for the LSX the onboard amps are perfectly matched to the speaker and I can stream from whatever device I want. Pc, phone, iPad etc.

They really,do sound great.

[DoubleSix]

No doubt.

However, to clarify, i have restricted space to place the tech, but a large room space to fill with sound. Double height room 6mx9m…

Not sure the KEFs would fill it.

[Tony1963]

The performance of the system, as you may well know, will depend entirely on how those speakers interact with that room. Not just if they go loud enough, but how their own shortcomings are revealed or exaggerated.
Nobody here can help with that, you’ll only find out once you’ve done some serious listening, in that room.

[Nomme de Plum]

DoubleSix said:

No doubt.

However, to clarify, i have restricted space to place the tech, but a large room space to fill with sound. Double height room 6mx9m…

Not sure the KEFs would fill it.

The Kef LS50IIs would with suitable sub. My Daughter has a pair in an open plan room larger than yours with a high ceiling although not 4.6m like yours.

There are other similar streaming speakers. Buchardt, Dynaudio, Piega 701 Wireless

This guy is quite good at reviewing stuff.

https://darko.audio/2024/02/piega-701-wireless-gen...

https://darko.audio/2024/02/buchardt-announces-a70...

These set ups are quite compelling as some have DSP room correction which would be great for your space. Irrespective of the route you take that DSP room correction should be somewhere in the system.

[NDA]

DoubleSix said:

Hi chaps,

I’d welcome some sage advice. Do i stick with separates for fidelity or am i better served by a more modern approach?

I have the LS60's - active 1400 watt speakers with streamer/DAC etc built in.

They're great, but I feel a little locked in to the KEF's choice of streamer and DAC - the inner upgrader in me is missing that part.

Were I to start again, I would buy another pair of actives (no question about that) but probably ATC's and partner those with a separate streamer pre-amp like the M66.

[DoubleSix]

So no votes for my current purchase (which appears to be winning all streamer reviews)?

Im not on a tight budget.

[Skyman]

DoubleSix said:

Im not on a tight budget.

In which event, I suggest a Moon North Collection 641/681 combo - just add stereo speakers, and perhaps a sub or two, to your taste/budget. A no nonsense streaming system.

Edited by Skyman on Sunday 7th April 11:34

[DoubleSix]

Ok, i asked for that, but you know what i mean. I know you get silly with HiFi but im looking for decent gear.

[Lucid_AV]

You have the Cambridge Audio gear 'in your shopping basket"!?! Really??? You haven't been to listen to it? You're just throwing together a system based on what's getting decent reviews and then adding the matching ancillaries, is that it?

This isn't like doing the grocery shopping online. It isn't potatoes, steak, tins of beans and the rest. This is more like buying fine wine. You need a tasting session with comparisons between other likely contenders. The best place to do that is at a dealer. From this you then make a shortlist of a couple of likely contenders to audition at home.

Some valid points have already been made in this thread. Active speakers have come a long way. Brands such as ATC, KEF and others are doing what Meridian Audio were up to three decades or more ago by putting the amps inside the speakers. We've seen and heard the benefits of going active. That is, to power each driver with a dedicated amplifier. Linn was doing this in the 1980s with their Isobarik speakers. The difference today is that the amps are small Class D units. That's another bit of tech that has developed greatly. The efficiency savings from eliminating the passive crossover are significant. The ability to add DSP to fix individual driver profiles is akin to mapping an engine ECU for track or road use.

It doesn't matter how clever the tech though, if the house sound of KEF or whichever brand you click to buy doesn't float your boat what are you going to do? The designers for each speaker brand have their own ideas of how a speaker should sound. Your job is to find the brand that matches with your expectations. You don't do that by internet shopping, not with higher-end Hi-Fi.

[DoubleSix]

Sure. But i don’t see the point of sitting in a perfectly optimised environment and trying to appy that to my, imperfect, home environment. And frankly, I dont have time anyway.

I have Q Acoustic M20s and a REL sub for my office/desk set up (bought via the internet believe it or not) hence leaning towards the Q Acoustic gear as I like the warm, easy sound they produce.

Non-dedicated environments are never going to be perfect so I don’t think theres much point in getting too obsessive unless it’s a home cinema or dedicated listening space.

However, im now curious as to why the highly regarded options i listed are getting zero votes… cost? Interface? Something else?

Edited by DoubleSix on Sunday 7th April 15:18

[DoubleSix]

Also, some pretty savage reviews on the KEF reliability on Reddit. Makes me hesitant. I wanted solid, workhorse performance with no fuss. Not latency and buggy software.

Ive read a lot of positive stuff about WIIM but i’d need an amp so im not really solving the placement issue there.

[d_a_n1979]

DoubleSix said:

Hi chaps,

I currently have the following in my shopping basket:

- Cambridge Audio CX81
- Cambridge Audio CXN100
- Q Acoustics Concept 50

I haven’t bought hi-fi gear for far too long and am applying my old skool logic that separates are better than an all in one system and probably required to drive the speakers acceptably.

However…

The area i need to put this is a but restricted for spare space I have some shallow shelves otherwise it’s going to be a floor standing rack. I’m also very aware that my thinking may be out of date. Perhaps a high end all-in-one really will perform equally???

I’d welcome some sage advice. Do i stick with separates for fidelity or am i better served by a more modern approach?

Ages ago I reduced my home office system to active studio monitors (JBL 308P Mk IIs) as I was sick of the boxes/wires etc (that's all in the back spare bedroom now where things are easier to tuck away/the amps & CDP/DAC etc are out of the way)

I did though, have very recently, a Cyrus One Cast with KEF R3 (not Beta) speakers and I found the pairing to be absolutely superb and it suited my needs (AirPlay2 for my Mac etc) very well

I've also had in the past an Arcam Solo, Marantz CR603 all in one systems and they were great; but now all I do is stream/music via my Mac. So boxes aren't needed and when they are; they're upstairs (currently Arcam Alpha 10 integrated/10P power, Rega Apollo CDP and Acoustic Energy AE109s) - all owned by me from new!

My JBLs currently are sat either side of my desk; fed by an SMSL DAC via my Mac - I don't need any more than that and all in, they sound bloody brilliant and they tested the KEFs very well indeed side by side... The KEFs are superb speakers; but they're not, IMO, x5 the quality of the JBLs...

[DoubleSix]

I can totally see the use case for an active speaker set up on a desk (like i have) or perhaps a teenagers bedroom… im just not convinced its the the uncompromising solution for a “main” set up in a large space.

[rednotdead]

The naim uniti range might give you more of what you need, they also work well with the Q Acoustics (i have the concept 40s on the end of a naimuniti and they really do sing).

[NDA]

DoubleSix said:

I can totally see the use case for an active speaker set up on a desk (like i have) or perhaps a teenagers bedroom… im just not convinced its the the uncompromising solution for a “main” set up in a large space.

Take a look at the ATC SCM40A - actives.

Actives, when measured against similar passive designs, are a better solution in lots of ways - particularly in crossover design.

Worth a look.

[Tony1963]

DoubleSix said:

I can totally see the use case for an active speaker set up on a desk (like i have) or perhaps a teenagers bedroom… im just not convinced its the the uncompromising solution for a “main” set up in a large space.

I sincerely hope you’re not saying that some of the great active speakers out there are more compromised than most passive speakers!

My top tip here, unless you’re in a hurry, would to be buy used and move it on if you don’t like it. Enjoy the journey, and become a bit of an authority on what you end up with, and why.

[DoubleSix]

Tony1963 said:

I sincerely hope you’re not saying that some of the great active speakers out there are more compromised than most passive speakers!

My top tip here, unless you’re in a hurry, would to be buy used and move it on if you don’t like it. Enjoy the journey, and become a bit of an authority on what you end up with, and why.

It was a question more than a statement really Tony. To me, logically, cramming everything in a user friendly box must introduce compromises. Correct me if im wrong.

Similarly, those KEF LS50 speakers with everything built-in are less £££ than the speakers alone that i listed in my OP. So, i would need someone to explain, convincingly why they are even comparable. You know, beyond “i have them and they sound nice”. One mans Mercedes is another mans Hyundai etc

I really haven’t got time for a journey sadly. I just want someone to say, “thats great gear” or “have a look at this comparable option”. I not sure the options here are necessarily comparable, hence my question above.

Edited by DoubleSix on Sunday 7th April 16:19

[DoubleSix]

rednotdead said:

The naim uniti range might give you more of what you need, they also work well with the Q Acoustics (i have the concept 40s on the end of a naimuniti and they really do sing).

Interesting thanks.

[DoubleSix]

Could someone explain why each manufacturer seems to have a proprietary app? I would have thought speaker co’s are good at making speakers and not so good at apps…. Don’t people just connect their chosen service and use that app??