Space-saving convenience combined with great sound as these four systems battle it out in our Group Test

All-in-one streaming systems offer great sound and space-saving convenience. Here are four of the best

Just-add-speakers streaming systems – single-box propositions that combine amplification with network streaming and physical connectivity – are on the rise and rise. And in a world that values convenience, and perhaps domestic space, more than ever before, that probably shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.

For those who don’t have the room or desire for a system of hi-fi separates, the idea of simply connecting a pair of stereo speakers into one box that has a Swiss Army knife of functions undoubtedly carries some appeal.

Many established hi-fi brands now have such solutions in their catalogue, and the four we have on test over the following few pages are fine examples of how music streaming can be ideally implemented into traditional hi-fi.

You can expect wi-fi and ethernet ports for access to streaming services, networked files and internet radio; Bluetooth and Airplay for one-touch streaming from smartphones and other portable devices; and physical connections to allow the option to connect other sources, such as TVS, turntables and CD players.

Hi-res file compatibility is ubiquitous – in many cases that includes support for MQA files and streaming service libraries too – as is some sort of dedicated app from which NAS drives and music services can be accessed. Indeed there are many boxes for streaming propositions to tick these days, and that’s before they even get to delivering a performance that comes close to the level offered by similar priced separates.

In this special Group Test, we place the current What Hi-fi? Award-winner, the Naim Uniti Atom, up against the feature-filled NAD M10, the purist-pleasing Arcam SA30 and the all-new Linn Majik DSM. So which of these jack of all trades are also masters in the field? The answer is a few page turns away…