**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY** 1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please) 2) All comments are moderated by a third party
@@rudolfappel7236 me too! I’m also guilty of that as well, having separates in a rack and admiring the complexity of it all. And yet now it’s heading towards a one box solution. Styled to enter the slip-stream lifestyle of the 21st century for sure….
@@Nicholas-db5sl I was doing about the same, at least on the way of doing so. "Luckily", a few separate components like the Stereo Amp died, the CD player is having mechanical issues already and so on. Im hella happy i have a modular/seperate system, i can easily replace a component without needing to find another place for the rest of the gear which would make no sense with any "AIO" component (As happened already often with AVRs - Any "minor" but still needed function malfunctions and i have to replace the whole AVR and need to find a sense for the broken one if anything is working at all at the AVR anymore.
Wonderful review! Very informative and teases out the differences nicely. I have separates but I love the idea of an all in one super integrated. Both units are very handsome. PS I appreciate all the juicy B-roll product shots!
I'm one of those people with a rack full of mismatching separates and I really love the simplicity of this concept. They look great, they sound great, and they're also amazing value. You're also cutting down on the cost of interconnects and spaghetti junction. Fabulous review Mr Darko.
Great video as always John, nice to see two Future Fi products from two great British manufacturers. If I hadn’t already gone down the separates route I would definitely consider either of these. Those Zu’s look gorgeous too, hope they sound as good as they look.
I like your attitude to music, your care about aesthetics, and your balanced approach to the choices facing audio lovers (or, dare I say, audiophiles).
I have a uniti nova and I love it. Never have I listened to more music than since I went super integrated. Thanks for the entertaining reviews Darko Audio
Great review! The simplicity and synergy is the reason I tried the KEF LS50 Wireless II. Thank you for giving that attention, but John you are such a tease. The Zu! I am completely bummed I didn’t order the Dirty Weekends last spring. I guess now I get the benefit of your review. When might I anticipate you’ll be ready to tell us about those speakers? I do so hope your review will include driving them with one or both of today’s streamers. Thanks again John, I really look forward to your videos. Great start my Sunday morning here in the States :-)
I must admit I yelped with pleasure when I got that glimpse of Viagra Boys early on - I self identify as a huge VB fan - but then I realised why I love your videos and approach over all others ... I simply walk away cheerful .. I'm usually inspired to try some new music .. tipper ... I'm engaged because I got a view of the hardwire beyond the specs and the cliches ... and more of the lived experience ... and I'm enthused! Many thanks.
Shrimp sessions 2 is incredible. Best musical discovery I've made in years. I wasn't so fussed about the studio recordings but that live set is a revelation.
This is a perfect starting point point for a second Hi-.Fi set up. Once you have spent 10+ years setting up your 'separate' ensemble, spent a fortune on interconnects, you just want a sub 5.000EUR combo (inclus. loudspeakers) to enjoy music with no fuss. Naim + Harbeth P3 IMO. Thkx Darko.
I like the hdmi input and multiple optical inputs, really handy for people with multiple cd or Blu ray players. Both are such neat ways to have serious hifi that looks sexy on the sideboard. Seperates always have the messy cable look that is hard ignore. Nice one John
I appreciate that you have music preferences, as an entity music is continually evolving through advances in technology, both style and ability of it's creators and also in music production and recording and playback devices. I do like to hear current trends in dance music because it gives me an indication of what powers the club scene today, the same I enjoyed in the 90's but with all the advances optimised. I do love your content and as music preference is such an intimate and sensitive subject don't justify the music you like because that's why it's there, for your enjoyment.
John, rock solid content as ever! But dude the biggest win here is Tipper and the albums released. Loving this beautifully produced and staged electronica. Thanks 🙏
I'm happy with my NAD c-388 I like the fact that you can upgrad with modules and I added the BluOs module. Does everything I need its convenient , simple,runs cool and you need by far less audio cables.
Excellent. Not seen ur channel before. I've just dipped my toes into streaming with the purchase of a used but un abused Arcam CD27 FMJ CD streamer. Don't know that much but am learning with the aid of good work like this. 😎👍🏾
Thank you for a detailed comparison. I'm leaning more Evo 150, it feels just a tad more "future-proof", but I think most of us (newcomers) would be delighted with either one.
Just Purchased an Evo 150 and I like your take in comparison with the atom. I’m now looking to add a pair of Sonus Faber “sonetto iii” to complete my setup. Great video,,just subscribed too!👍👍👍
You always do very good reviews but this topic isn't on my radar right now. Gotta say... I clicked to find out more about those beautiful Zu speakers. I hope there is a future video on those.
Once again another fantastic review from John, thank you. As I live in a very small old house I love these units, again though due to size I didn’t feel the need to spend so much so went with this years PowerNODE. A brilliant unit as I also hook it up to my TV with HDMI arc and I don’t need a screen. I love Cambridge Audio but when I looked at the cheaper evo 75 I personally didn’t like the buttons. This Evo 150 would be great, due to the extra inputs, but I can’t go to that level of spend personally knowing the kids will at some point damage it, 😂 and when I say kids I mean me, as I am the clumsy one in the house. All types of these units are so easy to use and I love them, I too have music playing a lot more in the house.
I always liked your approach to HiFi gear and music and this is my favourite review so far. This is spot on, I couldn't agree more to the points you made and since you're recommending Idles, Viagra Boys and have the Kid A/Amnesiac duo on your shelf, it makes us musical soulmates as well!
This is so refreshing to hear. My wife HATES WITH A PASSION HiFi separates and all those wires. I had a very hard time sourcing a reasonable sounding hifi that fulfilled her aesthetic demands and my desire for decent sound and connectivity. The end result was an Onkyo RN855 with matching CD player, Monitor Audio Broze 2 speakers stand mounted, and a Technics SL1500 turntable. In my 12x20 foot lounge it has more than enough clout but I'm wondering about my upgrade path. I've considered both the reviewed products and maybe a pair of Kef LS50 Metas but I'm scatching my head. Great video, right on topic for me.
Thanks for this. I love what you said about easy access to music. I have several friends who are really interested in music but scared to dive into the whole audiophile equipment thing. Their eyes glaze over when (not if) I talk to much about my gear. But at the same time they LOVE how it sounds. Making excellent sound quality more accessible to these “in-between users” is the way to go.
I completely agree with the concept that these simple boxes help us to just listen to music. I've discovered so much more music since buying an Atom. It is interesting to note that although the Cambridge trades punches with the Naim, it doesn't offer anything new in spite of the Atom being four (!!) years old, which shows how significant Naim's product is. My next purchase will definitely look to technologies like room correction as that's the other variable which most of us think of last and which probably has a larger effect than anything else. Eager for upcoming TDAI-1120 review 👌
I found this very interesting. I've always been into music as I'm a drummer. I tried dipping my toe into the audiophile world in the late 90's I had the separates picked out but just stuck with my trusty old technics unit. I have a pioneer portable dap I use in my car sometimes and most of my music is flac based on my hard drive. I play music at my desk via JRiver through a toslink to a Fiio converter and then into my Mackie CR5 speakers. I also use this setup for watching movies. Movies play much louder as they go directly through JRiver and not windows. Do either of these units have storage capacity or are they strictly stream? Can they stream from a local HDD?
Alright I won’t lie. I’m a huge Tipper fan. So when I saw the album art for JMH on your thumbnail I clicked right away lol. But having discovered your channel I can say that I’ll definitely be checking back for more reviews and comparisons. Just watched your overview of the Project debut pro and was glued to my screen. Very informative and knowledgeable! Well done! Side note as well, Dave Tipper has released not only Jettison Mind Hatch but three of his older albums on Vinyl so far. Those being “Broken Soul Jamboree”, “Forward Escape”, and “Seamless Unspeakable Something”. Good luck finding a copy of Forward Escape though. Very rare. His manager did announce that they are planning a re-release at some point in the future. As well as a Vinyl release of “Surrounded”. (Fun fact it was one of the first albums made for the dual disc format and was intended to be an entirely surround sound experience.) I highly recommend giving those Vinyl a listen. Especially after you’ve gone through more of his discography. There’s some subtle differences to them compared to the originals as a nod to the fans for the support. Dave Tipper is nothing short of a tour de force when it comes to sound design. Your ears will definitely like what they hear.
Hey this is a great video and looking to use this with the Kef R3, does this support HT bypass? Did you pair any KEF speakers with this amp and how was your experience with it? Thank you
Hey Darko:) Thanks for the reviev that exactly what I need right now helps a lot .It would be fantastic if You would also review Lyngdorf Tdai 1120 and compare it with those two great pieces of audio technology:) Lyngdorf gets a lot of praise on the forums but have really few youtube reviews/tests
I was among the first in line to order the 2021 Powernode from Bluesound. The sound quality, especially detail and soundstage, with my Maggie 1.7i set is amazingly good, far better than a couple of integrated amps I have been using. Agree that the value of the Naim and Cambridge front displays is more eye appeal than utility, at least in my listening room. I'm never going to look across the room to see what's playing when I've got a mini tablet in my hand showing the same info. That's why the Powernode just makes sense for me, and at far less cost. Now, driving the Magneplanars with an 80 wpc "hybrid digital" amp is sounding good so far, but it goes against the conventional thinking about Maggies needing gobs of high-current power to sound best. Compared to the class A/B integrated amps, the Powernode is a bit leaner but more detailed, which I like. Would enjoy auditioning the Evo 150's digital chops to see how it sounds compared to the Powernode.
Hi John, thanks for this video - I’m quite interested in the new Roksan Attessa streaming amp - I’d love to hear your thoughts on this if the opportunity arises. I would just use it with Roon primarily, and I think it should hopefully work as an endpoint, and fingers crossed 🤞 be roon ready certified in future.
I bought the Bluesound Powernode 2i because of your videos and really love the convenience. But I've also been considering going for even more convenience. How do these amplified streamers compare to the Kef Wireless II all-in-ones? For about the same price as the Uniti Atom and Evo 150 I could get the Kef Wireless II with matching stands and eliminated the middleman box. Are there downsides to completely eliminating any separates?
Thank you for the review! Very informative. Now I have a dilemna: I own and enjoy an Audiolab 6000A Play, but it’s a bit weak with my Focal Chora 826 at only 50 W per channel/8 Ohms. Would the 150 W per channel that the Cambridge Audio delivers make a big difference? I listen to all kind of music and also hooks a Pro-Ject Carbon Evo as well… I also connect the amp in a HT environment through the pre amp out as a passive amp for the HT. Thanks again!
I keep looking at the Naim thinking it would work in my small apartment. Now I have anopther choice. Not that there's aything to complain about with the Naim. I guess I just have to go and listen for myself. Nice one John, thanks.
I’m downsizing my living room setup and I want as few boxes as possible and ultra simplicity for the family. Whilst I love the look of the Evo with walnut sides (that suits my room), I’ll go with Naim for the user interface and cause I suspect it’ll better match my Rega RX5’s. I value musical coherence and rhythmic engagement above all else (and that delicious volume dial & remote make the decision easier too)
Same here Mike - 9 months in with my M33 and the sound and functionality is fabulous. The major streamers, Roon and DIRAC - also less clutter, cables and 'boxes'.😀👍
Great review - but I suppose the difference in watts 40 vs 150 must make a noticable difference if you go for say a Buchardt OG dynaudio speaker etc? Also how do these compare to say the Bluesound Powernode N330 or even the Audiolab 6000a play? But really, I love your review and videoes in general!
I currently have a Linn Majik DSM 4, which like your review is similar to the "just add speakers" philosophy above. SQ is an individual thing, however, it's great that all these types of 'higher-end' boxes elevate the listening experience while not compromising on the ability to access various music and AV sources as well as making the ability to do so, un-complicated. At last, we have the audio manufacturer's understanding of what the audiophile and (say this quietly... the consumer) actually wants.
The one thing with the Linn compared to other is that they usually have several HDMI ports. Currently have a MDSM/2. Is it worth the upgrade to the MDSM/4? Cheers.
Thank you for the review. I have a problem with CA EVO 150, it is producing distortion when played over the Airplay 2. Tried it with KEF R3 and Martin Logan Motion 15, same result. Did anybody else have/had the same problem?
Thank you for the review. Im Part of the target group for those systems. Im getting a pair of Kef R3 and I’m searching for something that pushes voices more forward and brings mor brilliance and shine or peak to the a bit limited designed treble. Do you have an recommendation for me?
Hi John, I too suffer seeing the display on most high-fi gear from the listener position and would love to know what comes out of the HDMI port in hopes that a monitor might be used to replicate the units display. Perhaps you could discuss in a short follow on post. Tx.
Hi John! Really interesting video. One question. How a Primare Prisma device could compare with these Naim and Cambridge EVO "All-in-one" amps... taking into account that a Primare Prisma i15 (or above) has almost the same functionality (Chromecast built-in, Spotify connect (and Tidal connect in the short term I think)), apart from its less apealing info display. And the same question about audio quality from Primare against them. Thank you
Nice review, but I'm trying to understand your feedback on tonal balance. What device out of these 2 would you choose for a 2.0 Focal Kanta no3 setup ? From what I understand you feel the Naim has more punch ( = power ? ). ( can you elaborate on that please ? to me a class D with 150W vs class AB 40W seems like a big win for the class D, power wise... My Marantz SR5013 just died this evening, and I'm desperately searching for item in stock that could replace it. I kind of prefer the all in one boxes too, I wont be missing the AV receiver functions. I'm happy to plugin all into my TV and use my TV's ARC or digital out... but to drive my Kanta's I've been using a Marantz MM7025 stereo amp with 2X140W into 8 Ohms so far... so could the Cambridge Audio replace both my SR5013 and MM7025 you recon ? Thanks for your review and time ! ( Music wise, I like most stuff, Metal, Pop, Hip Hop, Rap, Techno, House, Dubstep, Lounge music ...)
Ok that’s decision made then! I was waiting for your thoughts on the evo150 but had pretty much already made my mind up. Now here’s a question .. my living space is very open plan .. the room is 16mx8m … do I need floorstanders or do you think there’s a pair of stand-mounts that will fill that space?
John, I agree with you on all of what you said in the video. My only concern, though, with all-in-one is, if one part of the system goes bad, does it in effect render the entire system useless? Is it possible to fix something on an all-in-one? thanks.
Great video, John. I enjoyed your review of the NAD C 3050 LE. I have two Nodes and like the BluOS environment. Your thoughts on adding the NAD C 3050 LE instead of the Naim or Cambridge to replace my vintage Yamaha CA 2010? Danke, James
Hi John, thanks for this great review. Have you tested the headphone part of the Cambridge as I tend to listen a lot through items and HP? Do you still recommend?
THANK YOU! I've been waiting for this comparison for so long! I'm an extremely happy Atom owner (paired with Focal Aria 926) but there's always the "what else is there...?" question. One suggestion to video - the Naim app is just great and therefore I'm not even using the Atom remote (it's hidden deeply somewhere in the drawer). But the review is silent a about the Cambridge app - is there any?
I thought this was a great review of the EVO 150. I got to play with one for a while and found it so convenient and sounded so good for an all in one unit, that it would be a great stepping stone into HiFi.
I loved this video. Avoiding the black hole of separate matching insanity is exactly why I want one of these amps. P.S. I wish the NAD M10 v2 was included in the comparison.
Would love to see that as well. Also, a comment on pairing the evo 150 with the ls50 metas that are typically used in John’s videos apart from the lumina II’s he recently featured.
When using the sub out on those units. Will it automatic cut the freq to the fronts, or can you choose that your self? I would personal whant it to use fullrange.
**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**
1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please)
2) All comments are moderated by a third party
I can't express how much i prefer your stlyle of reviewing and describing audio gear than others ✌🏻
Completely agree. While I'm interested in music and tech, I'm not an audiophile, and still I find myself utterly drawn to John's channel. Superb 👌
Me too man. 💯
He used to be far more elitist when I first started watching, he's a lot better now. =)
Or maybe YOU'VE simply become more elitist? 😆
@@DarkoAudio Hahaha maybe I have.
*shoves his Diana V2 away*
I have no idea what you mean. 😇
Keep up the good work 😊
"Sound quality is not the only branch on our decision tree" - I can hear the harumphs already from the dudes with racks!
@@rudolfappel7236 me too! I’m also guilty of that as well, having separates in a rack and admiring the complexity of it all. And yet now it’s heading towards a one box solution. Styled to enter the slip-stream lifestyle of the 21st century for sure….
@@Nicholas-db5sl I was doing about the same, at least on the way of doing so.
"Luckily", a few separate components like the Stereo Amp died, the CD player is having mechanical issues already and so on.
Im hella happy i have a modular/seperate system, i can easily replace a component without needing to find another place for the rest of the gear which would make no sense with any "AIO" component (As happened already often with AVRs - Any "minor" but still needed function malfunctions and i have to replace the whole AVR and need to find a sense for the broken one if anything is working at all at the AVR anymore.
Indeed my decision tree failed the Niam (and a Rega CD transport) having no surface free to give access to top controls or loading. 😥
Absolutely spot on - we are sometime so tied up with hardware we forget why we are all here - the music.
the best reviewer on youtube strikes again, brilliant assessment of the two SOLUTIONS for different use cases.......keep up the great work john......
REALLY love your channel and videos John. Big up!
Most intuitive reviewer on RUclips, John is in the know. Excellent informative assessments.
You have insightful and fun videos. Such high quality. No one is close.
Wonderful review! Very informative and teases out the differences nicely. I have separates but I love the idea of an all in one super integrated. Both units are very handsome.
PS I appreciate all the juicy B-roll product shots!
The only channel where I like every single video.
I'm one of those people with a rack full of mismatching separates and I really love the simplicity of this concept. They look great, they sound great, and they're also amazing value. You're also cutting down on the cost of interconnects and spaghetti junction. Fabulous review Mr Darko.
The most tasteful sponsorship plugs on RUclips. Well done!
I come here for the reviews and leave with great music recommendations, couldn’t ask for more , keep up the good work
Very pleasant to watch, thanks John!
Great video as always John, nice to see two Future Fi products from two great British manufacturers. If I hadn’t already gone down the separates route I would definitely consider either of these. Those Zu’s look gorgeous too, hope they sound as good as they look.
Thank you John for making the video!
Fantastic review. This is what I have been looking for!
I always really enjoy your electronic music recommendations - a genre i was never into when younger but starting to explore more and more now. Thanks!
I like your attitude to music, your care about aesthetics, and your balanced approach to the choices facing audio lovers (or, dare I say, audiophiles).
Simply the best review with passion 👏
I love this category of all in ones, makes it easy. The top volume dial on the Naim looks super cool too.
Really enjoying the music suggestions from this video. Looking forward to the Zu review too!
Enjoyed it, as always some new tunes to check out, that alone warrants a "thumbs up". Cheers!
Thanks so much for your channel and reviews. I’m really excited about the just announced Cambridge CXN100. Can’t wait to get your thoughts.
Fantastic comparison, thanks John👍
Always great , thank you
Wow so much information in just a few minutes this is cool , i like it
thank you for the videos, very nice to watch.
Love your music recommendations!
Great review John. Have a Naim Atom Headphone piece on order and I very much appreciate your opinion and insight of the Atom.Thank you
We have found the new Cambridge EVO series to be a top seller and exactly what many people want in a system. I think you nailed it.
Nice one, John 👍, definitely food for thought !
I have a uniti nova and I love it. Never have I listened to more music than since I went super integrated. Thanks for the entertaining reviews Darko Audio
Hi.How reliable has Nova been ? Some chat online criticises it’s reliability .I love Naim stuff have an Xs with a Hi cap .
Great review! The simplicity and synergy is the reason I tried the KEF LS50 Wireless II. Thank you for giving that attention, but John you are such a tease. The Zu! I am completely bummed I didn’t order the Dirty Weekends last spring. I guess now I get the benefit of your review. When might I anticipate you’ll be ready to tell us about those speakers? I do so hope your review will include driving them with one or both of today’s streamers. Thanks again John, I really look forward to your videos. Great start my Sunday morning here in the States :-)
So excited to see a thumbnail with Zu Audio in it
This was an excellent video. Very entertaining and informative. You almost had me wanting to liquidate my rack full of separates. But…not yet!
Nice, laid back presentation.
I must admit I yelped with pleasure when I got that glimpse of Viagra Boys early on - I self identify as a huge VB fan - but then I realised why I love your videos and approach over all others ... I simply walk away cheerful .. I'm usually inspired to try some new music .. tipper ... I'm engaged because I got a view of the hardwire beyond the specs and the cliches ... and more of the lived experience ... and I'm enthused! Many thanks.
Shrimp sessions 2 is incredible. Best musical discovery I've made in years. I wasn't so fussed about the studio recordings but that live set is a revelation.
Cheers for the Call Super tip, had drifted away a bit after Fabric 92 😎
"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
This is a perfect starting point point for a second Hi-.Fi set up. Once you have spent 10+ years setting up your 'separate' ensemble, spent a fortune on interconnects, you just want a sub 5.000EUR combo (inclus. loudspeakers) to enjoy music with no fuss. Naim + Harbeth P3 IMO. Thkx Darko.
I like the hdmi input and multiple optical inputs, really handy for people with multiple cd or Blu ray players.
Both are such neat ways to have serious hifi that looks sexy on the sideboard. Seperates always have the messy cable look that is hard ignore. Nice one John
Can’t wait for the zu review. I love how they look. I have a pair of salks. Love beautiful looking speakers
I appreciate that you have music preferences, as an entity music is continually evolving through advances in technology, both style and ability of it's creators and also in music production and recording and playback devices. I do like to hear current trends in dance music because it gives me an indication of what powers the club scene today, the same I enjoyed in the 90's but with all the advances optimised. I do love your content and as music preference is such an intimate and sensitive subject don't justify the music you like because that's why it's there, for your enjoyment.
Thank you for mentioning X-Press 2, I just discovered their song Lazy and love it.
John, rock solid content as ever! But dude the biggest win here is Tipper and the albums released. Loving this beautifully produced and staged electronica. Thanks 🙏
Yes!
I'm happy with my NAD c-388 I like the fact that you can upgrad with modules and I added the BluOs module. Does everything I need its convenient , simple,runs cool and you need by far less audio cables.
Excellent.
Not seen ur channel before. I've just dipped my toes into streaming with the purchase of a used but un abused Arcam CD27 FMJ CD streamer.
Don't know that much but am learning with the aid of good work like this. 😎👍🏾
Great review…thank you. I’m curious to know what the hifi cabinet in the background is if possible?
Thank you for a detailed comparison. I'm leaning more Evo 150, it feels just a tad more "future-proof", but I think most of us (newcomers) would be delighted with either one.
Just Purchased an Evo 150 and I like your take in comparison with the atom.
I’m now looking to add a pair of Sonus Faber “sonetto iii” to complete my setup.
Great video,,just subscribed too!👍👍👍
You always do very good reviews but this topic isn't on my radar right now. Gotta say... I clicked to find out more about those beautiful Zu speakers. I hope there is a future video on those.
Fantastic review, still cant decide which one to buy, both are bloody brilliant pieces of kit.
I love the Cambridge Audio Evo 75 /150... maybe my current favorites all in-ones!
Once again another fantastic review from John, thank you. As I live in a very small old house I love these units, again though due to size I didn’t feel the need to spend so much so went with this years PowerNODE. A brilliant unit as I also hook it up to my TV with HDMI arc and I don’t need a screen. I love Cambridge Audio but when I looked at the cheaper evo 75 I personally didn’t like the buttons. This Evo 150 would be great, due to the extra inputs, but I can’t go to that level of spend personally knowing the kids will at some point damage it, 😂 and when I say kids I mean me, as I am the clumsy one in the house. All types of these units are so easy to use and I love them, I too have music playing a lot more in the house.
I’ve got the Naim Atom. It’s a fabulous box of tricks. Plus it looks great too.
I always liked your approach to HiFi gear and music and this is my favourite review so far. This is spot on, I couldn't agree more to the points you made and since you're recommending Idles, Viagra Boys and have the Kid A/Amnesiac duo on your shelf, it makes us musical soulmates as well!
Nice work John
This is so refreshing to hear. My wife HATES WITH A PASSION HiFi separates and all those wires. I had a very hard time sourcing a reasonable sounding hifi that fulfilled her aesthetic demands and my desire for decent sound and connectivity. The end result was an Onkyo RN855 with matching CD player, Monitor Audio Broze 2 speakers stand mounted, and a Technics SL1500 turntable. In my 12x20 foot lounge it has more than enough clout but I'm wondering about my upgrade path. I've considered both the reviewed products and maybe a pair of Kef LS50 Metas but I'm scatching my head. Great video, right on topic for me.
Thanks for this. I love what you said about easy access to music. I have several friends who are really interested in music but scared to dive into the whole audiophile equipment thing. Their eyes glaze over when (not if) I talk to much about my gear. But at the same time they LOVE how it sounds. Making excellent sound quality more accessible to these “in-between users” is the way to go.
Exactly. I'm surprised they're aren't more of these products available.
@@gorillapancake it’s €2500, don’t think this is remotely close to enticing for in between users.
At 3000€?
I completely agree with the concept that these simple boxes help us to just listen to music. I've discovered so much more music since buying an Atom. It is interesting to note that although the Cambridge trades punches with the Naim, it doesn't offer anything new in spite of the Atom being four (!!) years old, which shows how significant Naim's product is. My next purchase will definitely look to technologies like room correction as that's the other variable which most of us think of last and which probably has a larger effect than anything else. Eager for upcoming TDAI-1120 review 👌
I found this very interesting. I've always been into music as I'm a drummer. I tried dipping my toe into the audiophile world in the late 90's I had the separates picked out but just stuck with my trusty old technics unit.
I have a pioneer portable dap I use in my car sometimes and most of my music is flac based on my hard drive. I play music at my desk via JRiver through a toslink to a Fiio converter and then into my Mackie CR5 speakers. I also use this setup for watching movies. Movies play much louder as they go directly through JRiver and not windows.
Do either of these units have storage capacity or are they strictly stream? Can they stream from a local HDD?
Nice Floorstanding speakers John. Room looks great
Excellent video! I’m particularly interested on the phono capabilities of EVO 150. Do you recon it’s quality is equal to the Cambridge Audio Duo?
Alright I won’t lie. I’m a huge Tipper fan. So when I saw the album art for JMH on your thumbnail I clicked right away lol. But having discovered your channel I can say that I’ll definitely be checking back for more reviews and comparisons. Just watched your overview of the Project debut pro and was glued to my screen. Very informative and knowledgeable! Well done! Side note as well, Dave Tipper has released not only Jettison Mind Hatch but three of his older albums on Vinyl so far. Those being “Broken Soul Jamboree”, “Forward Escape”, and “Seamless Unspeakable Something”. Good luck finding a copy of Forward Escape though. Very rare. His manager did announce that they are planning a re-release at some point in the future. As well as a Vinyl release of “Surrounded”. (Fun fact it was one of the first albums made for the dual disc format and was intended to be an entirely surround sound experience.) I highly recommend giving those Vinyl a listen. Especially after you’ve gone through more of his discography. There’s some subtle differences to them compared to the originals as a nod to the fans for the support. Dave Tipper is nothing short of a tour de force when it comes to sound design. Your ears will definitely like what they hear.
What do you think of sound quality? I just ordered to pair with ZU DW6, thanks
Hey this is a great video and looking to use this with the Kef R3, does this support HT bypass? Did you pair any KEF speakers with this amp and how was your experience with it? Thank you
Hey Darko:) Thanks for the reviev that exactly what I need right now helps a lot .It would be fantastic if You would also review Lyngdorf Tdai 1120 and compare it with those two great pieces of audio technology:) Lyngdorf gets a lot of praise on the forums but have really few youtube reviews/tests
I presume you could add a separate power amp from the pre-outs so there is an upgrade path in terms of power.
I was among the first in line to order the 2021 Powernode from Bluesound. The sound quality, especially detail and soundstage, with my Maggie 1.7i set is amazingly good, far better than a couple of integrated amps I have been using. Agree that the value of the Naim and Cambridge front displays is more eye appeal than utility, at least in my listening room. I'm never going to look across the room to see what's playing when I've got a mini tablet in my hand showing the same info. That's why the Powernode just makes sense for me, and at far less cost. Now, driving the Magneplanars with an 80 wpc "hybrid digital" amp is sounding good so far, but it goes against the conventional thinking about Maggies needing gobs of high-current power to sound best. Compared to the class A/B integrated amps, the Powernode is a bit leaner but more detailed, which I like. Would enjoy auditioning the Evo 150's digital chops to see how it sounds compared to the Powernode.
You are the best reviewer on RUclips! 👏👏👏
Hi John, thanks for this video - I’m quite interested in the new Roksan Attessa streaming amp - I’d love to hear your thoughts on this if the opportunity arises. I would just use it with Roon primarily, and I think it should hopefully work as an endpoint, and fingers crossed 🤞 be roon ready certified in future.
Hi, hope you could share your thoughts on co-axial driver speakers in the near future (i.e. Zu, kef, etc). Thanks
I bought the Bluesound Powernode 2i because of your videos and really love the convenience. But I've also been considering going for even more convenience. How do these amplified streamers compare to the Kef Wireless II all-in-ones? For about the same price as the Uniti Atom and Evo 150 I could get the Kef Wireless II with matching stands and eliminated the middleman box. Are there downsides to completely eliminating any separates?
The single box approach appeals to me most and really like how HDMI is gradually becoming standardised.
@Dixene Lee Yea.
@Dixene Lee why?
@Dixene Lee Yes and also under $1500.
@Dixene Lee Sorry I only just saw your reply. What is the benefit of that?
@@shemsureshot Because HDMI is better suited for combined Audio Visual only.
Audio already has cables optimized for it.
Love the IDLES mention!!
and Viagra Boys
Your review really helped me. I have the Sonus faber lumina 2. So think the evo is the rigt choice for me. Thank you for pointing out thise things👍🏻
Thank you for the review! Very informative. Now I have a dilemna: I own and enjoy an Audiolab 6000A Play, but it’s a bit weak with my Focal Chora 826 at only 50 W per channel/8 Ohms. Would the 150 W per channel that the Cambridge Audio delivers make a big difference? I listen to all kind of music and also hooks a Pro-Ject Carbon Evo as well… I also connect the amp in a HT environment through the pre amp out as a passive amp for the HT. Thanks again!
Super reviewing skills
I keep looking at the Naim thinking it would work in my small apartment. Now I have anopther choice. Not that there's aything to complain about with the Naim. I guess I just have to go and listen for myself. Nice one John, thanks.
I’m downsizing my living room setup and I want as few boxes as possible and ultra simplicity for the family. Whilst I love the look of the Evo with walnut sides (that suits my room), I’ll go with Naim for the user interface and cause I suspect it’ll better match my Rega RX5’s. I value musical coherence and rhythmic engagement above all else (and that delicious volume dial & remote make the decision easier too)
NAD M33 was my choice, based on your review and others. I’m one year in and loving it!
Same here Mike - 9 months in with my M33 and the sound and functionality is fabulous. The major streamers, Roon and DIRAC - also less clutter, cables and 'boxes'.😀👍
Great review - but I suppose the difference in watts 40 vs 150 must make a noticable difference if you go for say a Buchardt OG dynaudio speaker etc?
Also how do these compare to say the Bluesound Powernode N330 or even the Audiolab 6000a play?
But really, I love your review and videoes in general!
Darko, which system would you pick between Lumina II connected to CA EVO 150 vs KEF LS50 W2 ?
I currently have a Linn Majik DSM 4, which like your review is similar to the "just add speakers" philosophy above. SQ is an individual thing, however, it's great that all these types of 'higher-end' boxes elevate the listening experience while not compromising on the ability to access various music and AV sources as well as making the ability to do so, un-complicated. At last, we have the audio manufacturer's understanding of what the audiophile and (say this quietly... the consumer) actually wants.
The one thing with the Linn compared to other is that they usually have several HDMI ports. Currently have a MDSM/2. Is it worth the upgrade to the MDSM/4? Cheers.
The Atom - there's magic inside that little box.
Thank you for the review. I have a problem with CA EVO 150, it is producing distortion when played over the Airplay 2. Tried it with KEF R3 and Martin Logan Motion 15, same result. Did anybody else have/had the same problem?
Thank you for the review. Im Part of the target group for those systems. Im getting a pair of Kef R3 and I’m searching for something that pushes voices more forward and brings mor brilliance and shine or peak to the a bit limited designed treble. Do you have an recommendation for me?
Another Darko informative vlog. Somewhat out of my empty pockets price range. But one can dream a little.
Hi John, I too suffer seeing the display on most high-fi gear from the listener position and would love to know what comes out of the HDMI port in hopes that a monitor might be used to replicate the units display. Perhaps you could discuss in a short follow on post. Tx.
Hi John! Really interesting video.
One question. How a Primare Prisma device could compare with these Naim and Cambridge EVO "All-in-one" amps... taking into account that a Primare Prisma i15 (or above) has almost the same functionality (Chromecast built-in, Spotify connect (and Tidal connect in the short term I think)), apart from its less apealing info display.
And the same question about audio quality from Primare against them.
Thank you
Nice review, but I'm trying to understand your feedback on tonal balance. What device out of these 2 would you choose for a 2.0 Focal Kanta no3 setup ? From what I understand you feel the Naim has more punch ( = power ? ). ( can you elaborate on that please ? to me a class D with 150W vs class AB 40W seems like a big win for the class D, power wise... My Marantz SR5013 just died this evening, and I'm desperately searching for item in stock that could replace it. I kind of prefer the all in one boxes too, I wont be missing the AV receiver functions. I'm happy to plugin all into my TV and use my TV's ARC or digital out... but to drive my Kanta's I've been using a Marantz MM7025 stereo amp with 2X140W into 8 Ohms so far... so could the Cambridge Audio replace both my SR5013 and MM7025 you recon ? Thanks for your review and time ! ( Music wise, I like most stuff, Metal, Pop, Hip Hop, Rap, Techno, House, Dubstep, Lounge music ...)
Ok that’s decision made then! I was waiting for your thoughts on the evo150 but had pretty much already made my mind up. Now here’s a question .. my living space is very open plan .. the room is 16mx8m … do I need floorstanders or do you think there’s a pair of stand-mounts that will fill that space?
John, I agree with you on all of what you said in the video. My only concern, though, with all-in-one is, if one part of the system goes bad, does it in effect render the entire system useless? Is it possible to fix something on an all-in-one? thanks.
Great video, John. I enjoyed your review of the NAD C 3050 LE. I have two Nodes and like the BluOS environment. Your thoughts on adding the NAD C 3050 LE instead of the Naim or Cambridge to replace my vintage Yamaha CA 2010? Danke, James
Hi John, thanks for this great review. Have you tested the headphone part of the Cambridge as I tend to listen a lot through items and HP? Do you still recommend?
THANK YOU! I've been waiting for this comparison for so long! I'm an extremely happy Atom owner (paired with Focal Aria 926) but there's always the "what else is there...?" question. One suggestion to video - the Naim app is just great and therefore I'm not even using the Atom remote (it's hidden deeply somewhere in the drawer). But the review is silent a about the Cambridge app - is there any?
Thanks !!!!
I thought this was a great review of the EVO 150. I got to play with one for a while and found it so convenient and sounded so good for an all in one unit, that it would be a great stepping stone into HiFi.
I loved this video. Avoiding the black hole of separate matching insanity is exactly why I want one of these amps. P.S. I wish the NAD M10 v2 was included in the comparison.
Well spotted,need to add NAD M10 in to the competition
Would love to see that as well. Also, a comment on pairing the evo 150 with the ls50 metas that are typically used in John’s videos apart from the lumina II’s he recently featured.
Add the lyngdorf 1120to that list too.
looking forward to the lyngdorf tdai 1120 review too
And the Gato Audio DIA-250S MNP
When using the sub out on those units. Will it automatic cut the freq to the fronts, or can you choose that your self? I would personal whant it to use fullrange.