I have owned 2 Jadis int amps and have heard many others. The Jadis has a uniquely musical, captivating quality that I have not heard in others. There is currently a DA-60 for $5K for sale, owned by Trelja, who must be one of the best A'goners ever. I know, because I originaly bought a JOR from him. If I was looking for an int amp for $5K, I would buy this one. I have never heard the Ayon Spirit ($4K) but it has great reviews.
$5000 integrated budget: Please help me choose....
Looking at a very good integrated. I have been in the audio game quite a while, and have bounced around from several speakers. I have just fallen in love with an Opera Callas Divina (full range, 2 way, low impedance down to 4.4 ohm, nominal 6 ohm, 89db/w) and need a nice integrated to go with it. I recently decided to "start over"! Original plan was to purchase a Sonus Faber, but this was similar, for much less money.
I am mainly looking at Integrated solutions at this time. It seems value in this price range is very high, and there are some good ones. Tried matching separates in the past: been there, done that. Tube or solid state is OK, listening preferences are mostly classical, orchestra and chamber, jazz and vocals. Typical music lover stuff. Source will be CDP and the room is fairly big, at 450 square feet. Hard to find anything above a Jolida locally to demo.
Some models under consideration:
Lavardin IT
Karan 180
McIntosh MA2275
Rowland Continuum 250
Jadis (model 60?)
Simaudio I-7 (maybe too thin)?
Cary SLI 80 F1
Conrad Johnson CA-200
I have been running a cheap Jolida tube integrated, but that is a leftover from a previous system, and I would like to step up. I don't need to spend $5000 if I don't have to, but that is my max budget.
Sound wise, the Opera is a bit sweet and smooth, a touch warm (typical Italian sound) and I am looking for a tube amp or hybrid that isn't to "tubey" but rather leans somewhat toward musical and real, but not overly mushy.
I am mainly looking at Integrated solutions at this time. It seems value in this price range is very high, and there are some good ones. Tried matching separates in the past: been there, done that. Tube or solid state is OK, listening preferences are mostly classical, orchestra and chamber, jazz and vocals. Typical music lover stuff. Source will be CDP and the room is fairly big, at 450 square feet. Hard to find anything above a Jolida locally to demo.
Some models under consideration:
Lavardin IT
Karan 180
McIntosh MA2275
Rowland Continuum 250
Jadis (model 60?)
Simaudio I-7 (maybe too thin)?
Cary SLI 80 F1
Conrad Johnson CA-200
I have been running a cheap Jolida tube integrated, but that is a leftover from a previous system, and I would like to step up. I don't need to spend $5000 if I don't have to, but that is my max budget.
Sound wise, the Opera is a bit sweet and smooth, a touch warm (typical Italian sound) and I am looking for a tube amp or hybrid that isn't to "tubey" but rather leans somewhat toward musical and real, but not overly mushy.
- ...
- 35 posts total
02-07-09: F1a I'm working on a Gryphon review right now, but my updated thoughts on the Jeff Rowland Continuum 500 are Here |
Komaki, I can recommend the APL-Hifi UA-S1, its an integrated amp with tube pre and transistor out. Its the most natural amplifier I have heard. Its the first amp I ever had in my home to be dead quiet. I did extensive search last year for integrated amp. Before this I had VTL TL7.5pre with Spectron Musician IIISE power amp. The UA-S1 is as I said the best Ive heard. Other integrated amps I looked at include the ASR Emitter II exclusive. |
- 35 posts total