Mini System Assistance, please?

[solomr2]

I've got an aging Yamaha mini system, and my spouse has been grumbling and threatening to throw it out for the past year, so I need something to replace it with. The trouble is I've made the rounds at the big box stores and can't find anything that has what I need.

Here are my needs;

1. Small, compact shelf system that will fit into an average wall unit
2. Integrated CD player that plays regular audio CDs as well as MP3
3. Integrated FM radio
4. Integrated iPod/iPhone dock that charges as well as plays
5. USB interface for external music (disk, thumb drive)
6. Reasonably good sound I can tolerate
7. Under $500

I've found some that are close, but don't have these core features. There are lots of iPod/iPhone docks, but virtually none have a CD player, and vise/versa. Is this just an unlikely combination, or have I missed the boat?

Please let me know if you have suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/ipod_sound_systems/mc-dx32i/
However it doesn't do external usb ....

I never heard this model, but in general Teac is brand I generally trust...

or this one:
http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/ipod_sound_systems/sr-l250i-b/

smaller, No USB, but has aux port


and option 3:
http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/reference_series/cr-h238i/
Most pricey, you'd have to buy speakers separately - however it's most likely highest quality option out of three

 

[GranteedEV]

Well, I had no idea so I searched "Mini stereo" on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-DM-38-System-Featuring-Connectivity/dp/B003R6T0V4/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1288975296&sr=1-15

And if you're willing to stretch the budget to 600, you can even add a nice pair of bookshelves - a single pair of B-STock EMP e5Bis is currently available in both red and black for 200 dollars.

EDIT: Hmm that last teac unit seems to retail around 300 dollars.. paired with these speakers you'd have an awesome system.

Then you could add an emotiva sub10 later and have a really kickass system!

 

[solomr2]

http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/ipod_sound_systems/mc-dx32i/
However it doesn't do external usb ....

I never heard this model, but in general Teac is brand I generally trust...

or this one:
http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/ipod_sound_systems/sr-l250i-b/

smaller, No USB, but has aux port


and option 3:
http://www.teac.com/consumer_electronics/reference_series/cr-h238i/
Most pricey, you'd have to buy speakers separately - however it's most likely highest quality option out of three

Thanks for the suggestion.

Options 1 is a bit light, Option 2 is a bit small, not quite what I had in mind. #3 could be interesting though if I find the right components to go with it.

 

[solomr2]

Well, I had no idea so I searched "Mini stereo" on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-DM-38-System-Featuring-Connectivity/dp/B003R6T0V4/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1288975296&sr=1-15

And if you're willing to stretch the budget to 600, you can even add a nice pair of bookshelves - a single pair of B-STock EMP e5Bis is currently available in both red and black for 200 dollars.

EDIT: Hmm that last teac unit seems to retail around 300 dollars.. paired with these speakers you'd have an awesome system.

Then you could add an emotiva sub10 later and have a really kickass system!

I don't know how I missed the Denon on Amazon. I'll take a closer look at it.

Now you guys having thinking about buying separate components, whereas I was originally thinking all-in-one. This is good food for thought. I'd still prefer an all-in-one, but if that doesn't exist, then components is what I'll have to pursue.

Thanks.

 

[GranteedEV]

I don't know how I missed the Denon on Amazon. I'll take a closer look at it.

Now you guys having thinking about buying separate components, whereas I was originally thinking all-in-one. This is good food for thought. I'd still prefer an all-in-one, but if that doesn't exist, then components is what I'll have to pursue.

Thanks.

Well the more you can separate your components, the higher quality and specialization you can acheive. I mean i'm not saying to have 10 things in the signal chain.. but I mean personally if I were shopping for what you're shopping for... I'd want to keep things as complicated as possible because that's just me.

 

[solomr2]

Not to make things more complicated, but I just realized I can kill two birds with one shot here by including a DVD in this system. So, I looked at this unit:
TEAC DR-H338i

The trouble is, although it has an HDMI output, it surprisingly has no HDMI inputs at all. I would need at least two HDMI in (DVR & BluRay).

So, now I'm a bit more unsure than before, but I think the DVD route works better for me since I can consolidate this with my A/V system in my family room. It doesn't need to be high-end, I still have my full 5.1 system in my media room, this is mostly for my kids.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Not to make things more complicated, but I just realized I can kill two birds with one shot here by including a DVD in this system. So, I looked at this unit:
TEAC DR-H338i

The trouble is, although it has an HDMI output, it surprisingly has no HDMI inputs at all. I would need at least two HDMI in (DVR & BluRay).

So, now I'm a bit more unsure than before, but I think the DVD route works better for me since I can consolidate this with my A/V system in my family room. It doesn't need to be high-end, I still have my full 5.1 system in my media room, this is mostly for my kids.

Why do you need hdmi in for dvd ?
BluRay for 2.1 mini system ? If you rlly want you could just do hdmi switching at tv and use analog audio out on br player to connect back to the teac

 

[GranteedEV]

So, now I'm a bit more unsure than before, but I think the DVD route works better for me since I can consolidate this with my A/V system in my family room. It doesn't need to be high-end, I still have my full 5.1 system in my media room, this is mostly for my kids.

Dude, don't make your kids settle for mediocrity! They're the FUTURE!

 

[markw]

Teac does make some nifty compact systems but they are truly an international company. Not every product is available world wide. You might want to check it's availability where you are but, from looking at your location, it should be no problem.

 

[solomr2]

Why do you need hdmi in for dvd ?
BluRay for 2.1 mini system ? If you rlly want you could just do hdmi switching at tv and use analog audio out on br player to connect back to the teac

Why? Ease of use, one cable connection, etc. It's not mandatory, but would be ideal. BluRay would also be nice to connect via HDMI.

I guess if I go this route then I don't need a mini or micro system. I may as well look at full size AVRs.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm the local Teac-o-holic. If you have any specific questions about them specifically I would be glad to be of assistance.

I had a prodecessor to the CR-H238i and was very pleased with it's performance. I used it on several different speakers, mostly with good results. Being that the internal amplifier is only rated to deliver 25 watts per channel it struggles with less sensitive speakers and those with low impedances.

I believe the Teac DR-H338i uses a different amplifier topology (class D or tripath) with a switching power supply. I like the size of it but Teac has had prior issues with integrated DVD players, I would probably sway you toward the CR-H238i and just use the Blu-ray player to play your DVDs. Connect all your video sources to the display and use the analog stereo output from the television to connect to one of the open analog inputs on the CR-H238i.

Audioholics has the Yamaha now, and they have great service.

http://store.audioholics.com/product.php/2673/0

Edit: I'd only consider the Yamaha if you have super efficient speakers you wish to mate with it. With power consumption of 50 watts and weight of 7.9 pounds I doubt it has much output capability.