Has there been discussion of "what's best" for a small footprint system?

[Bartolo1]

For some of us, advancing in age can come with downsizing the living space. Currently, our Magico S5MkII's and two racks full of Naim boxes is "ok" -- it has a big footprint but the living room holds it just fine.

While it's not pressing I do find myself when out and about and listening to (or reading about) gear I don't own, focusing a lot more on what would work in a small footprint system.

One example I heard recently is the Linn Klimax DSM pre/streamer/player with Linn 800w mono blocks. A 3-box system prior to accounting for vinyl.

Even fewer boxes are possible with a high-end integrated (although it the streamer/player isn't built in, I'm not sure if there are any premium streamer/players that are one box only . . . although two slim boxes that don't take up more space than one bigger box is nothing to complain about).

Some companies just focus on small boxes; Aavik and Nagra come to mind.

For those who live in small spaces . . . is there a gap in focusing on small footprint systems?

 

[Kofi Baffour]

My system is a simple one and the biggest component of it are the speaker/subs.

 

[Site7000]

Mola Mola Kula (incl DAC and phono boards) with DeVore O/96 speakers
or
Gryphon Diablo 333 with Magico S3 speakers.

You can't ask for more in a simple system.

 

[unboxed]

If someone wants the flexibility of high quality separates but in small a small footprint I suggest the VAC Essence line. Preamplifier and monobloc amplifiers. I use Essence 80 iQ monoblocs on my Sound Lab speakers. They have been succeeded by Essence 90 iQs in the product line.

VAC

VAC

 

[Bartolo1]

Mola Mola Kula (incl DAC and phono boards) with DeVore O/96 speakers
or
Gryphon Diablo 333 with Magico S3 speakers.

You can't ask for more in a simple system.

I did have a quick listen to a previous version of the Gryphon Diablo a few years ago. Great reminder about Gryphon integrated TY. The system would need a streamer/player. Not a 3 or 4 box dCS; that'd defeat the purpose!

 

[astrotoy]

TAD CR1 speakers. Designed by Andrew Jones more than a decade ago. Definitely on the upper end of price. Pretty compact but heavy at 101 lbs for the pair.. I have a pair of the MR1 which were the prototype speakers that Jones built a few pairs to test out the final CR1 design. My understanding is that the MR1 were too expensive to build in quantity.

 

[Rushton]

For some of us, advancing in age can come with downsizing the living space.

This is a story about downsizing, not a specific recommendation for solutions. Just ours...

With my retirement, my wife and I moved to a new city to be nearer family and we downsized into an apartment. The dedicated listening space in our old home, with Avalon Eidolon speakers, Atma-Sphere MA-1 OTL monoblock amplifiers, Walker Audio Proscenium turntable, Aesthetix Io Eclipse phono stage, would not fit into an apartment. I toyed for a long time with smaller footprint speakers and amplifiers, but I also knew the 8,000 LPs would not fit and could not make the move with us. Plus, we didn't want to be the neighbors everyone else hated for playing our music at the levels we enjoy. (My wife has been my listening partner for over 50 years, so she is complicit.)

So, we made a big conversion to all digital and headphones only. The sale of existing hardware was translated into a smaller system of comparable sonic excellence. The best DAC I could identify and afford, the Playback Designs MPD-8. A matching pair of Stax SR-009S headphones. And HeadAmp's excellent Blue Hawaii SE electrostatic headphone amplifier. Then came replaceing the LPs with high resolution digital, all files stored on external USB hard drives and played through JRiver on a small mini-pc. We're now over our angst of converting from vinyl to digital. And we're finding that we've come to love the sonics of Pure DSD256 and DXD albums. And with the Playback Designs MPD-8, even CDs and SACDs sound pretty doggone good.

So, small footprint? You betcha. Excellent sound quality? Got that, too.

Would we still prefer listening to great speakers? Yes, but we've lived with small footprint speakers before, and they never ultimately satisfied as well as our floor standing Avalons and some other larger speakers. Absent going back to the joy of larger full-range speakers, becoming headphone listeners has suited us well. And, our neighbors appreciate us.

 

[Cellcbern]

For some of us, advancing in age can come with downsizing the living space. Currently, our Magico S5MkII's and two racks full of Naim boxes is "ok" -- it has a big footprint but the living room holds it just fine.

While it's not pressing I do find myself when out and about and listening to (or reading about) gear I don't own, focusing a lot more on what would work in a small footprint system.

One example I heard recently is the Linn Klimax DSM pre/streamer/player with Linn 800w mono blocks. A 3-box system prior to accounting for vinyl.

Even fewer boxes are possible with a high-end integrated (although it the streamer/player isn't built in, I'm not sure if there are any premium streamer/players that are one box only . . . although two slim boxes that don't take up more space than one bigger box is nothing to complain about).

Some companies just focus on small boxes; Aavik and Nagra come to mind.

For those who live in small spaces . . . is there a gap in focusing on small footprint systems?

FYI: 16'D X 9.5'W X 8'H : Pathos TT integrated (modified), Modwright modified Marantz SA8005 sacd player with analogue tube output stage and separate tube rectified power supply, 89 db Bache Audio speakers (upgraded), DHDI ZR acoustical panels. 35 Inpol watts per channel provides all the bass heft and quality I could ask for in this size room.

 

[Holmz]

For some of us, advancing in age can come with downsizing the living space. Currently, our Magico S5MkII's and two racks full of Naim boxes is "ok" -- it has a big footprint but the living room holds it just fine.

While it's not pressing I do find myself when out and about and listening to (or reading about) gear I don't own, focusing a lot more on what would work in a small footprint system.

Our’s was only “pressing” due to a move… and not a downsize per se… although it was somewhat of a downsize.

One example I heard recently is the Linn Klimax DSM pre/streamer/player with Linn 800w mono blocks. A 3-box system prior to accounting for vinyl.

Even fewer boxes are possible with a high-end integrated (although it the streamer/player isn't built in, I'm not sure if there are any premium streamer/players that are one box only . . . although two slim boxes that don't take up more space than one bigger box is nothing to complain about).

I am intrigued with the Lyngdorf TDAI and their RoomPerfect stuff.
(mostly because on an AVP it seems to work on that “pretty o’rioght”.)
We also have a combined 5.x.x. HT and 2-channel… and that is also in the spirit of ‘smaller”.

I have only heard the TDAI once in a shop with a small pair of speakers, and it is hard to compare, but it seems like something that one would at least have on a “check em out” list.

We have smaller monoblocks at the speakers.

Some companies just focus on small boxes; Aavik and Nagra come to mind.

I am also a bit predisposed to the Nagra footprint.

For those who live in small spaces . . . is there a gap in focusing on small footprint systems?

What do you mean by “a gap in focussing on small footprint systems?”

It would also be a potentially good time to consider powered speakers like maybe Genalec, etc.
If one did not have the TT, then powered speakers and a CD/Streamer—> DAC can go into them… and maybe even direct…
(I am not too sure, as a TT is still in our system here.)

Hope some ^that^ helps.

 

[Anton D]

If no vinyl...

One box streamer/DAC/Pre of your choice into a pair of Harbeth NLE-3 speakers.

 

[Bartolo1]

What do you mean by “a gap in focussing on small footprint systems?”

I meant a "gap" here on the forum . . . and other online discussions. It's not a topic I see discussed all that much despite the fact that many people do downsize their systems for various reasons. Including moving into much smaller living areas.

As opposed to the "I've retired to the 'back woods' of such-and-such and built myself a 5,000 sq ft dedicated hi fi building.

 

[Bartolo1]

So, we made a big conversion to all digital and headphones only.

Very interesting - a headphone system built for two! Im not sure I've seen that before!

While I do have vinyl, I have 'only' about 200 LPs and they take up maybe a little more than 50% of the space taken up by the current hi fi racks. Should be savable

 

[Site7000]

TAD CR1 speakers. Designed by Andrew Jones more than a decade ago. Definitely on the upper end of price. Pretty compact but heavy at 101 lbs for the pair.. I have a pair of the MR1 which were the prototype speakers that Jones built a few pairs to test out the final CR1 design. My understanding is that the MR1 were too expensive to build in quantity.

TAD gear is so timeless and professional; that's an amazing pair of speakers to own. What other "I got it when it was released" choice of components can challenge the TAD CR-1 for longevity at the top of their category or deterring owners from looking elsewhere? And your pair is a pre-release pair. Cool.

 

[Site7000]

I did have a quick listen to a previous version of the Gryphon Diablo a few years ago. Great reminder about Gryphon integrated TY. The system would need a streamer/player. Not a 3 or 4 box dCS; that'd defeat the purpose!

You're right. And the Mola Mola does have a streamer and BT.

 

[Al M.]

Very interesting - a headphone system built for two! Im not sure I've seen that before!

That's what I had in 1990/91 before I switched to a speaker system.

 

[Al M.]

This is a story about downsizing, not a specific recommendation for solutions. Just ours...

With my retirement, my wife and I moved to a new city to be nearer family and we downsized into an apartment. The dedicated listening space in our old home, with Avalon Eidolon speakers, Atma-Sphere MA-1 OTL monoblock amplifiers, Walker Audio Proscenium turntable, Aesthetix Io Eclipse phono stage, would not fit into an apartment. I toyed for a long time with smaller footprint speakers and amplifiers, but I also knew the 8,000 LPs would not fit and could not make the move with us. Plus, we didn't want to be the neighbors everyone else hated for playing our music at the levels we enjoy. (My wife has been my listening partner for over 50 years, so she is complicit.)

So, we made a big conversion to all digital and headphones only. The sale of existing hardware was translated into a smaller system of comparable sonic excellence. The best DAC I could identify and afford, the Playback Designs MPD-8. A matching pair of Stax SR-009S headphones. And HeadAmp's excellent Blue Hawaii SE electrostatic headphone amplifier. Then came replaceing the LPs with high resolution digital, all files stored on external USB hard drives and played through JRiver on a small mini-pc. We're now over our angst of converting from vinyl to digital. And we're finding that we've come to love the sonics of Pure DSD256 and DXD albums. And with the Playback Designs MPD-8, even CDs and SACDs sound pretty doggone good.

So, small footprint? You betcha. Excellent sound quality? Got that, too.

Would we still prefer listening to great speakers? Yes, but we've lived with small footprint speakers before, and they never ultimately satisfied as well as our floor standing Avalons and some other larger speakers. Absent going back to the joy of larger full-range speakers, becoming headphone listeners has suited us well. And, our neighbors appreciate us.

View attachment 155774

A great headphone system is an excellent choice. I would go back to one myself if I had to downsize from my current speaker system.

And yes, it allows you to play at a satisfying volume level, which is usually an issue with speakers when you have to downsize.

 

[Folsom]

I've been working on this for a little while you might say. One of the key things to me isn't really the electronics but the speakers. To me the domination of a room from speakers and then often stuff all over the walls etc is what makes music enjoyment in a more relaxed manner, in a room aside from a dedicated one, considerably more difficult.

What I've learned is I think the only approaches that don't involve direct radiation except in corners is the way to go. I'm not even suggesting you need small speakers per se, you just don't need them taking over the room every time.

 

[Argonaut]

 

[TooCool4]

I've listened to Devialet in the past and liked them, I have not had a chance to listened to the latest Devialet Astra but they are getting great reviews.
Since you are already in the Magico camp, I would look at the latest Magico S2. Both the Devialet and Magico S2 will give you a smaller footprint and I bet will sound amazing.

In my opinion this combination is worth investigating.

 

[Tangram]

I don’t recall a discussion per se on small high end systems but I’m sure there’s lots of experience on the matter here, even if it’s a secondary system in say, a home office. There are a few interesting aspects to the exercise as I see it:

1) For many, the downsized system will be their last system.
2) For vinyl lovers, this feels like a big decision point. Keep the vinyl or not. Or, keep some of the vinyl and pass the rest on. For longtime vinyl collectors, downsizing means making some very difficult decisions.
3) Will I be sharing walls with neighbors?
4) Can I dispense with speakers (the bulkiest part of a system) in favor of headphones and still enjoy the hobby?

These are all personal decisions so there’s no point debating them. For me, I’m not willing to compromise, given that the hobby will increase in importance as I age and stay closer to home. In fact, we’ve been looking for a downsize home for several years that is closer to the hiking and biking trails we love. But finding a smaller home that meets the requirements of an audiophile (I want my next room to be better than the current one) is proving a tall order.