Como Audio Musica 24
FOR Decent balance and detail; lots of features and connectivity AGAINST Poor timing and dynamics; design feels cheap
Premium all-in-one Cd-player/ streamer/radios are like buses: you wait ages for one to come along, and when it does, it’s not even the one you want. The Como Audio Musica is the second one-box Cd/streaming solution we’ve heard recently, and while we’re all for them as a concept, there's still plenty of room for one to sweep us off our feet.
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Como Audio’s features list is certainly on point. The Musica has a single CD slot-loading mechanism ‘built to rigorous automobile industry standards’, and plays CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs. On top of that is a USB for those with digital files – compatible with AAC+, MP3, WMA, WAV FLAC and ALAC formats –and also a 3.5mm analogue input.
It also plays non-physical media via wi-fi, aptx Bluetooth, built-in streaming apps, such as Spotify Connect and Tidal, and FM, DAB and internet radio. Plug in an Amazon Alexa-ready product and you can control the Musica, and access your music collection, with your voice.
Inside is 30W per channel of Class D digital amplification, driving a pair of 19mm soft-dome tweeters and two 8cm long-throw, four-layer voice coil woofers, whose response can be tailored via the Musica’s customisable EQ.
The exterior is a little at odds with the impressive spec sheet. The MDF cabinet – available in Walnut wood finish, or Hickory, White or Black for a £50 premium – feels a little old-fashioned, while its rubber preset and control buttons and trio of small aluminium dials don’t suggest a unit costing much more than a few hundred quid.
“Ironically, given its moniker, the Como Audio Musica’s performance isn’t all that musical. It's not rhythmically inept, but timing is a struggle”
There is a full colour screen that displays album artwork and channel information, but does little to bring the Musica’s design to anywhere near the standard of its main rival, the Roberts Stream 67. The best we can say is that the design is inoffensive, which unfortunately translates to its musical performance too.
Vocal confidence
The tonal balance is decent, with a rich midrange a particular highlight. The Musica makes good use of its dimensions to dig relatively deeply into bass frequencies with confidence. It provides a platform for full-bodied mids, and also means the Musica is particularly at home with vocal-led tracks.
Ironically, given its moniker, the Como Audio Musica's performance isn’t all that musical. We couldn’t describe it as rhythmically inept, but timing is a bit of a struggle. The Musica never feels entirely in control with a simple 4/4, let alone anything more intricate. It isn’t bad enough to make it unlistenable, but it’s still a way off the kind of composure we’d expect for this sum of money.
Relatively flat dynamic expression doesn’t help, either. The Musica manages to avoid sounding bored by music, but there is little emphasis on leading notes, while large-scale shifts are suggested more than dealt with heavy blows. Next to its rival, the Roberts Stream 67, neither unit is entirely expert in this regard – not enough for them to receive full marks – but the Musica is clearly a length behind.
However, Como Audio has kitted the Musica out with plenty of features, and if you're more taken with the way it looks and feels than we are, it could appeal for a little background listening. Just don’t expect anything special.