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 | | Posted: 29/05/07 |
| 'HARD TO BEAT FOR SIMILAR MONEY' | | Strengths:
Pretty much all you need in the box. Good neutral sound for classical, partnered with B&W CM2. FM tone great with external aerial, DAB is well..DAB. Remote IR can be learnt easily by a Pronto for whole system control. | | Weaknesses:
No SPDIF digital in for a music streamer like the Squeezebox. Firmware can crash once in a while. Cost of Ipod rLead unless you can get a deal. | | Overall:
Style and substance. |
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| | | Performance | | 100% | | Build | | 80% | | Value | | 80% |
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| | Posted: 02/02/06 |
| 'GREAT SOUNDING HIFI IN AN ELEGANT BOX' | | Strengths:
Fantastic CD sound, excellent build quality, interconnection with ipod, DAB radio, | | Weaknesses:
rLead is expensive and doesn't work with ipod dock or firewire charger | | Overall:
Firstly its worth decribing what my buying criteria were for a new system. In my student days I had a Marantz CD player, Arcam Alpha amp and Misson speakers. This system has long since gone and in the chaos of family life been replaced by an ipod and a poor sounding but practical mini system. So my objective was simple I wanted to get back the music quality I loved with my budget hifi but without the multibox seperates clutter.
For me the Solo fitted the bill perfectly, I also tried the Linn system and a high end micro from TEAC but neither came close for sound quality and features.
The Solo was a clear leader sound wise from the moment I heard it. However, speaker choice is critical and I found that this can make the difference between good and wow ! I tried the Solo with the B&W CM1s and Monitor Audios RS1s both of which were rich sounding with a full bass and adequate detail. The B&Ws just that bit cleaner sounding in my opinion. Finally I tried the KEF iQ5 floorstanders and the wow factor truely arrived.
The soundstage, presence and detail with a pair of iQ5s on the end of the solo was amazing; certainly much better than my old budget system and more than I expected at this price point. The iQ5s were slightly lean and bass weight wasn't as full on as with the Monitor Audios but the detail and midrange improvement was worth it. Now run in the iQ5s have found a bit more warmth and the bass is slightly richer which has only improved on the overall quality. If you love trouser flapping bass however look elsewhere.
With a good CD recording this system can sing! It is simply so musical, and at low volumes too which is something I love about it.
The iPod integration with the rLead is good, the ipod menus work well with the remote and track details are fed through to the Arcam screen. The sound from the rLead is acceptable for background listerning whilst working but if you have the CD you will be digging it out.
DAB and FM radio sound good ; This is my first DAB experience and I feel it has missed a trick somewhere quality wise...another subject.
Overall I challange the WHF view that a well sourced budget system can beat the Solo. From what I have seen and heard if you wanted a radio and CD source plus Amp for a £1000 you would really be in the bargin bin seperates wise and the Solo sounds a cut above this. As you may well expect given that most of its internals are lifted from Arcam seperates like the CD73.
Shop around and you can get some great speaker discounts with the Solo. I paid under half price for the iQ5s. |
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| | | Performance | | 100% | | Build | | 80% | | Value | | 100% |
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Average Rating: 4 out of 5
