The iPod from Apple has shown how convenient and versatile the handling of music can be in the 21st century. A lot of users noticed their CD collection as a dust collector. On the one hand, the proven silver discs needed a lot of room and care.
All on Linn line
On the other hand, they were unsuited to match the trend set from the album to individual tracks by targeted purchases in the download store. The widespread physical phonograms were also guilty of powerful search functions for searching through their own music collection and discovering new music when shopping on the Internet. Not to mention the display of album covers and extensive metadata.
Naim Audios art of combination
Anyone who holds something today, who maintains a central digital music archive on his PC or a network storage (Network Attached Storage, NAS) and hears internet radio. The streaming of audio files evolves in record time from the exception to the rule.
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It is no wonder then that the Scottish brand Linn, which has become known through the legendary record player LP12, has completely stopped the construction of CD players some time ago in order to concentrate completely on the streaming division. After all, she has been successfully running a download store for demanding music for many years and, after proudly showing off record sales, makes particularly high-resolution fare beyond the CD limits. The Scots also define the standards of the relevant journals with super-streamers, which devour clearly five-digit sums.
The crisp Cala system from T + A
With the Kiko, Linn would like to hit two birds with one stone: On the one hand, the smart complete system should set the entry threshold much lower, on the other hand, it should also appeal to those who do not want to be constantly with installation, theoretical background and operating instructions. Even if you are looking for an appealing design, you should be inspired by the rounded three-piece design with rounded aluminum profiles for the housings of control unit and loudspeakers.
Since Neutrik connectors are used in the Profibus range, even the uninhibited user can not make much mistakes when connecting. After all, the two small two-way speakers are actively controlled with their own power amplifiers for each driver. There was no crossover between amplifier and chassis, which promises perfect control. The signal is already split before amplification.
With the display, Linn has pushed the art of simplification to the extreme: only symbols appear which are dimmed after every operation. This is quite good, once you have understood it. However, if you are coming from other devices, it is difficult to deal with the logic of the remote control. After all, a setup wizard for the PC helps to set up the system. The best way to get the Kiko with the free app under control. It reacts quickly, displays useful additional information such as data rates and also facilitates the handling of Internet radio as well as the sophisticated online service Linn Radio.
A few small quirkies can not drive out the App of the Scottish Creation: the mains switch sits on the side, and the Neutrik plugs for the loudspeakers, which are not fault-prone, can only be inserted very hard into boxes. And if the inexperienced user believes that he is at the goal, the system remains silent. Because the professional connections must be locked after the insertion still like a bayonet lock by turning. A special feature of the Mini Streamer are the three HDMI inputs and a corresponding output.
Seen from a sound point of view, the compact system of Linn also pays homage to the philosophy of the house: short dry basses blend to soft, melted heights. In addition there is a plastic image. Thanks to the restrained, extremely clean bass, the speakers can be placed anywhere and run with a wall in the back to great performance.
Linn's rival Naim Audio from Salisbury also attaches great importance to performance. After the death of the sound entrepreneur Julian Vereker, the British opened up new trends in record time. Thanks to a clever module design with many equalities for certain modules, Naim is now looking to a verifiable range of streamers for various user groups. All can be operated simply and intuitively.
Naims smaller, but because of its solid aluminum case and its impressive transformer amazingly unitiQute 2 benefits from its excellent four-line display, which can simultaneously display artist, title and elapsed playing time. The smallest of the successful all-in-one series Uniti is just right for every detail.
Its front features mini-jack connectors for mobile players and headphones plus a USB jack. The latter, unlike the Denon Ceol Piccolo, does justice to the fact that the memory key formatted in the file system FAT16 or FAT32 has previously been used with a Mac - a feature that also characterizes Revox and T + A. An iPod or iPhone can also be connected directly to the USB port and operated with the remote control via the front display.
The equipment is complemented by built-in WLAN, an FM tuner and connectivity for other sources. Via the preamp output, the system can be expanded with external power amplifiers. In addition, the latest software version allows the construction of a multi-room system with up to five listening zones. This allows the user to listen exactly to the millisecond of the same program that is currently running on its UnitiQute in all rooms.
Revox shows love for detail
The only difficulty to solve is to choose the right loudspeaker. Basically, the Naim sounds very rich and full. Its bass is full, yet very crisp and contoured. The voices are suitable for chasing down their backs with their homogeneity and plasticity. As with the Linn, the UnitiQute 2 enjoys the highest priority of timing. This is how the English as well as the Scots get the music directly into the feet, which want to flip.
The three-part Cala system from T + A went extremely hard and upwards somewhat more open than the competitors from the island. It built the instruments and the performers incredibly plastic between the noble small aluminum boxes and convinced even with Web radio already with fine, sparkling heights. With HD files from the hard disk, the Herforder beauty swung to enormous precision, transparency and dynamics. Especially lovers of classical music find a deep and stable room picture with this system, which makes them easy to forget huge hi-fi systems.
A piccolo of Denon
And pop fans can enjoy a crisp kick-bass. Hausmänner can combine the good with the useful: thanks to a cooperation between T + A and the kitchen manufacturer Siematic, the small fine audio system is also integrated into the built-in kitchen - including the screen. With this superb piece from a kitchen radio with RDS-VHF and web radio tuner is the motto: "Who wants to hear must flush."
The American system also surprises with a series of clever solutions. WLAN is just as on board as Bluetooth with high A2DP transmission quality as well as a widely readable display. And Cala, in contrast to the other test participants, even allows the rewinding and rewinding. In addition, the free app contains some clever details, such as an analogue volume knob.
Besides lots of light there are also some tiny shadows. Thus, long title names do not fit completely on the display. In addition, the remote control and the app sometimes work against each other, and the USB input is arranged like the Revox Joy S119 on the back. But this is a good thing to consider when you consider that Linn owners have to do without a Universal Serial Bus.
Conclusion
The most important accessory for the Joy of Revox is the remote control. Without them, the solid little magic box is blind - meaning: its user. For this, the Swiss gave the model-designed remote control a multi-line color display, which even shows the album cover even when streaming. However, the free app that was convincing up to small hangers sometimes had difficulties in loading the cover from the server.
The Revox system is characterized by a loving execution in detail as well as useful special functions such as the sleep and the music-wake-up mode. In addition, it is flexible: the solid loudspeaker terminals of its compact, powerful switching stage can not only be matched with the two-way speakers Re: Sound G Shelf, but also speakers from other manufacturers or larger Revox boxes. It also provides good connectivity with two analogue and four digital inputs as well as a coaxial digital output and subwoofer connection.
If you want to connect your iPod, the separately available docking station must increase. In addition to the design and the sound adjustment, the possibility of specific sound corrections from the DSP also speaks for the use of branded speakers. They were not necessary in a trampaarung like the S119 and the G Shelf boxes. The system was able to play very loudly, very dynamically, and convinced by perfect focus. Its distinction, especially when streaming 24-bit / 192 kHz recordings, makes it ideal in combination with its high transparency for classical music and jazz - which is not to say that pop is not that fun.
The Ceol Piccolo of Denon is very pop-affine, which proved to be a real surprise. It is not only great equipped with CD drive, integrated iPod dock, an informative three-line OLED display, an optimally designed and clearly labeled remote control as well as numerous timer functions. It sounds especially pronounced adult, coherent and full.
Even with web radio the sound was convincing, especially the punchy, rich bass. Only pronounced classic lovers could be disturbed by the slightly poisonous strings, which appeared to be somewhat obtrusive even with HD audio streaming.
Small reductions are to be made at this favorable price also in the detail execution. This allows the Ceol Piccolo to seamlessly play gap-free music albums with uncompressed FLAC and WAV files. But that can be the most elaborate and bulky AV surround receiver also not better. At least, the most smart smartphone with built-in wireless LAN even allows AirPlay.
In addition, Denon has integrated the popular paid online music services Spotify and Last.FM. The white system can also use its USB input on the front panel, which automatically switches the source when a stick is inserted.
Bottom line, the Ceol Piccolo is the surprise of the test. Of course the compact bikes from the renowned European high-end forging Linn, Naim, Revox and T + A offer excellent processing and sound quality, but in terms of price-performance ratio, the cost-effective, fully equipped flyweight is absolutely top .
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