Integrated amplifier search

There’s really nothing out there that packs equal power and features in a smaller footprint, especially for the price of the Halo. Parasound keeps pulling rabbits out of the hat when it comes to value/$. Just look at their new $599 phono stage. Where else can one find a brand new, American- engineered phono stage with all that adjustability and for that price?

There are smaller and better sounding integrateds at this price point, but none match the Halo’s versatility.

My recommendation is the Exposure 3010S2, with the DAC and Phono modules, though you’d have to give up bass management and tone controls. Anyhow, the Halo isn’t that big compared to most of the popular integrateds in the current market. It’s downright compact compared to many. I would adjust your rack/shelf space rather than adjust the footprint of the amp. Or you can become a serious audiophile and get a tube amp.

I’m willing to go up in price.  My wife has tolerated my audio habit long enough and I don’t listen critically nearly as much as I use to, so going down in size is no problem for me.  The Sony has intrigued me for a while.  I don’t remember if it has a DAC or not.

The Sony sounds about identical to the Halo. I've owned both and compared them back to back. The big difference is that the Sony pretty much petered out once my 88db sensitivity speakers approached 90db. 

The strength of the Sony is its performance at low volume levels. That and it's a better value proposition when only SQ is considered. 

I would think the Naim Supernait2 would be a better choice than the Unti Nova - where SQ is concerned. A lot of the Nova's price comes from the steaming/network/DAC hardware. 

If your system is mostly for background music, might as well save your money and get Sonos. 

If you really want to hear what 2-channel music at its best, get a tube amp. Owning one should be on every audiophile's bucket list. 

I’ve had tubes before. Anthem pre amp, pathos classic one, and antique sound labs integrated. I’m sure I’m missing a couple. They didn’t do much for me and I’m convinced good solid state gear can go toe to toe with tubes.

Best of luck then. I've yet to hear any SS (even megabuck SS) that can truly match a halfway decent tube amp. If you're looking for SS that can match/exceed tubes, pieces like the Halo aren't even within a stone's throw. Stuff from the likes of Pass can get somewhere in the ballpark.