2. amps-preamps
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All in one Pre/Power/Streaming/DAC or Streaming Preamp/DAC combo ~$2k-4k recommendations

Howdy!

Looking for recommendations on a user-friendly  pre/power/dac/streamer OR preamp/dac/streamer combo or all in one pre/power/dac/streamer combo.  ~$2-4K is my price range.  These combos are difficult to search the internet for and even more difficult to search Audiogon for (what section do you list them in?). 

Here's what I think are my requirements.  I say, "I think" because I'm open to other options to get me there.
1. Control unit with iphone, ipad
2. Runs Tidal
3. Runs cool-- my equipment is behind doors away from 2 year old hands
4. Fun options- HDMI input, bluetooth, air play, room correction- I have no control over placement options for speakers (wife retains that authority)
5. If recommending all-in-one box with power needs plenty of watts to run ATC speakers, generally >100wpc.

Current system consists of ATC SCM 11 v2 speakers, Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 which runs straight into Wyred for Sound ST-500 mk 2 power amp.  I have a Squeezebox touch from which I stream Tidal.  Also have an apple tv and sony uhp-h1 universal player connected through the DAC.  My stereo is in the main living room connected with the tv that everyone uses.

I"m really looking for functionality upgrade, not necessarily looking to improve on the sound.  I'm pretty pleased with sound quality and I don't know if I could elaborate on what sound quality I would improve upon if you asked.  I want my wife and kids to be able to use it and enjoy it as much as I do.  Think Taylor Swift dance parties (for my daughters), country music for the wife, and jazz/acoustic for me, and tv sound through the stereo all of the rest of the time.   

Right now I have a separate remote for all the devices.  I frequently have 3 remotes in my hand at once.  I use iPeng to control the Squeezebox, but I don't think it's great and doesn't integrate all that well with Tidal. Wife and kids find it more difficult to use.

My wants seem to outweigh my bank account- the eternal audiophile conundrum.

Thanks for your input!


joshelston
austin_jeff's avatar
austin_jeff
32 posts
 
simaudio moon neo ace if you can try one out...2900retail think
joshelston OP
49 posts
 
@djones: the M100 and M150 are the most intriguing to me and I keep going back to them.  On paper they look great.  Hard to find any reviews that are of any help.  In a world of audio reviews where all of them are positive reviews I kind of read between the lines in a assuming that instead of a reviewer publishing a negative review they just don't publish one at all.  That may be assuming too much, however.  Have you heard one?  Associated equipment?  What did you think?
joshelston OP
49 posts
 
Any thoughts on Classe Sigma 2200i or Anthem STR?  Love them Canadians!
djones51
617 posts
 
There is a thread, Micromega M100/150 Field Reports, you can refer to. I used to own one and sold it when I bought some Ohm Walsh 2000 speakers and no longer used the room correction. I also used it with a wireless repeater and would have dropouts it needs to be hardwired with an ethernet cable which was not possible in my situation.  I had the M100 and it had no problem driving the Paradigm 85f I used to have nor the Ohm's and both sounded great paired with the M100. It's a "swiss army knife" solution but I found I am more old style and went back to simpler style analog amp  adding some tubes in the chain. Read the thread some very satisfied users. 
mzkmxcv
558 posts
 
@joshelston  
 
It’s a high end one, and any stereo ones with HDMI aren’t as up to date and won’t have as frequenct/timely updates.  
  
As I was hinting at with all the specs I gave, it is excellent for music as well. There is still a $10,000 amp challenge if you think amps that are level matched and operating below audible distortion with linear amplification sound different.
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