If you live near me you're welcome to listen to my Cyrus kit. Email in profile.
joolsburger - MemberAfter twenty years of buying hifi I've come to the conclusion that it's all about the speakers and the source. I've downgraded from a 4k amp to a 300 pound one and the difference is not 3700 quids worth. I'd keep the audio lab, upgrade the speakers to something juicy and get a squeezebox.
It's important that the bits in between, transfer the information from one end to the other efficiently though, jools.
+1000 for the Naim Uniti
I've had mine a while now and its fantastic. I stream from an iMac using Allegro Media Server and it just works. Although i have now cabled the Uniti to the switch I have as it was spanking my wireless network a bit hard. My Uniti is connected to a lovely new pair of Rega RS5's and its quite simply brilliant. The iPhone app to control it is pretty cool as well. I'm about to borrow a UnitiServe as well (the joy of having an office attached to a Naim dealer !)
I'd agree with the Squeezebox Duet as one part of the setup - the firmware is somewhat shonky (I think I have to take the battery out and reset the controller every other day or so), but the functionality is great.
FWIW, I run that through an Arcam Solo, which has the innards from an Alpha CD73(?) CD player, DAB and FM radio and some decent amp parts. But then if you're not after a one-box solution there are probably better bets out there.
I wouldn't waste my money on a hi-fi branded sever/streamer. If I was in your position I'd sell everything and get a 1TB Mac mini, a good firewire DAC, tiny power amp and some large, high sensitivity speakers.
That is the future of hi-fi IMO.
Woppit my previous amp was a Lavardin IT i sold it for a naim and then sold that in order to go valve. I bought a Marantz 6003 from Richers as a stop gap and frankly I'm likely to just keep it. Speakers are Audio Physics and the front end is Clearaudio/AT/NVA so not too shabby.
A month back I'd have agreed with you but I'd say PC decent sound card or squeezebox, simple little amp, big f off speakers is the way forward too.
Raindog-Ta for the offer but unfortunately I live in Cambridge so a bit of a trek! I like the idea of a one-box solution so I thinly my first step is to have a listen to the Naim & Cyrus units. The Naim support for Apple Lossless looks interesting but the UnitiQute may be a bit underpowered
