[Arcam_boy]

Hi,

I'm wanting a new system that I can use in my flat.

It must be stylish and have good sound quality but I don't want it to take up to much space. It doesn't need to go to club levels. I'm not sure whether to use it purely for my laptop or to integrate it and use it for my tv as well and mount my tv above my desk.

I'm considering the B&W Zepplin as a stylish all in one system as I should be able to plug this in to my TV/DAC and use that and its supposed to have fairly decent sound quality.

I'm also considering spending a little more and buying

Focal Dome 2.0 Speakers in gloss black £480 Could possibly buy xtz 99.25/26
BK Gemini Gloss Black £205.45
Cambridge Audio DACMagic (Already own)

Amp will probably be a receiver so I can run the sub. Possibly one of the older Arcam AVR 280/350's although I'd like to go down the blu ray route so might need one capable of processing blu ray

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Hawkswood]

I heard the Zeppelin in a store recently and to my ears it was a disappointment (little better than an average mini system), but that could have been due to the music choice or the less than ideal listening conditions - try to hear one for yourself.

Presumably with Arcam in your user name, you've already discounted for whatever reason (cost, perhaps) the Arcam Solo Mini? A while back I auditioned its larger Solo brother and the sound quality blew away all the other integrated systems I've heard so far, so if the Mini is anything similar to this then it should definitely be on your shortlist if you can afford one. There's also the new Cambridge Audio One system from Richer Sounds (£349.95 excluding speakers) which I haven't heard yet but someone said that it was noticeably better than something like a cheap Denon system.

As for hi-fi separates, Cyrus separates are compact as well as having a good reputation; my local hi-fi shop recommended them as being better than full-size Arcam ones. That salesman could have been biased but they did sound good and hi-fi magazines seem to think likewise.