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Best of the best Integrated amps in 2018

I'm starting this new thread to talk about the Uber integrated amps available today on the market.Here i'm talking about integrated amps that can easily equal in performance $30K worth of separates and above.A list of them that i can think of :

D'Agostino Momentum integrated, Jeff Rowland Daemon, Vitus MP-I201, Vitus RI-101, Bel Canto Black, Pass INT-250, Gryphon Diablo 300, T+A PA 3100 HV, McIntosh MA9000, Ypsilon Phaeton, Soulution 530, CH Precision Integrated, Audionet Watt, Audionet Stern-Heisenberg Integrated (to be released), Esoteric P-03A, Dartzeel CTH-8550, Boulder 865, Audio Research GSI 75 and others.
Please share your experience if you have auditioned or own some of these amazing machines.
thieliste
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
For big money I cannot see any value in buying an integrated amp.I would never go to an integrated from separates.I think the only integrated amp I had was back in 1965, because I did not know any better...     
Sorry to rain on this parade. I have found being able to change one or the other to be very valuable , over the many years I have owned stereo equipment. In the long term, an integrated is not as easily upgraded as separates.Again my comments are for folks thinking about this, and not to disparage folks who enjoy their integrated amps.
keithr
950 posts
 
For SS, the Dart CTH is sublime and comes with phono which separates it from the pack.

For P/P tube, I'd probably try with the new Vac 170iq which is getting excellent reports - it also has a phono option.
spinaker01
293 posts
 
Elizabeth, I think some people just want to simplify things and get off the upgrade express. Integrated amps have come a long way and many of them are justifiably considered 'destination' purchases that provide many of the same qualities of separates without the boxes and cable and stuff everywhere. I can see the appeal.
jh901
65 posts
 
Will the Pass and Gryphon, for example, easily outclass fairly well regarded tube pre-amp/SS power amp separates in the $10,000 price range (combined)?
thieliste's avatar
thieliste OP
322 posts
 
The Gryphon Diablo 300 surely will.
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