I am a serious advocate of all-in-one "lifestyle" projects like Arcam's Solo CD player/tuner/integrated amp. Why? Because, simply, if high-end audio is to make inroads into normal homes with people looking to trade up from iPods and Bose systems, stacks of 17" separates isn't going to cut it. Wives and potential wives want fluffy pillows and window treatments, not 200 lbs of jagged steel and blinking lights. Why is that important, you ask? Because even if the woman in your life doesn't control the check book, she controls something much more important...

That said, it comes as no shock that the Arcam Solo doesn't sound as good as $1600 of separates. Stereophile likes the sound but doesn't get all gushing over it. Theoretically, an all-in-one could sound better than separates - built-in synergy without cable-matching. There are issues, of course, but here's to hoping the big-dog companies start making some wicked all-in-ones and snatch up a little of that market share Bang and Olufsen has owned for, oh, the last decade.

Arcam Solo CD Receiver Review [Stereophile]
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