What amps should I audition?


I’m thinking ahead (crazy I know)

I want to purchase a high end amplifier next year, maybe an integrated or just a power amp.

I would be looking to spend around 15k max on an integrated, and 8-10k on a power amp separate (funds to acquire a preamp will be got at a later date next year)

What brands and what model from each brand should I try to get a home audition for? 

I should note I would probably be buying new as I can’t imagine I will be able to get a home audition with used gear. I’m open to buying used, but I’d have to get an audition in a system like mine, or actually in my system... I don’t really want to buy anything without auditioning first. On a related note, what is the easiest or best way to get a dealer relationship started, one where he would let me home audition? I’m even willing to pay 100% deposit if it means I can return it no questions ask after the audition period, but the dealers I’ve asked to do this with so far have refused. I always see people on this forum saying they manage to do that. I’m a bit at a loss how they manage to pull that off.

Anyway some more ideas: Bryston amps and Nagra Classic pre? This was the only setup I’ve heard on my speakers and it was quite magical. I really like the Nagra, and the Bryston combo. Used, it could be got within my budget. New.. not so much. I could swap out the Brystons with the matching Nagra amp, maybe. Or even just go for the Nagra Classic Integrated. All within my budget (if used) and with my speakers 96db sensitivity I should be good to go with the Nagra 100wpc rating.

other ideas: mcintosh mc462 or mc275 mk vi. 
Pass Labs XA30.8 or XA60.8 or XA100.8
Acxuphase e-470
Luxman 509X 

Actually that’s all I’ve really come up with so far. I am open to hearing any thoughts, concerns or ideas you may have. I do believe all the above mentioned amps will better my Kinki EX-M1. 

Cabling will be upgraded to Audience before any of this by the way. 
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xd2girls
A couple of other Companies you may want to consider: I listed the integrated but their Amps are just as good ....

Ayre
www.ayre.com/products/amplification/ax-5-twenty

Prima Luna
www.primaluna-usa.com/dialogue-premium-hp-integrated

Ypsilon  
Great product, once and A while a used one comes up into the high side of your price point.
www.aaudioimports.com/ShowProduct.asp?hProduct=251#

Best of luck and have fun!




On the point of spending on peripherals, Yes you need IC and AC upgrades. But not neccessarily the same time. My efforts have been to buy the best I can afford, then the next phase of spending after I paid off the junk I just bought, is the accessories to top notch. Then back to the most important item.. upgrade..                      
So eight years ago I bought new amp, preamp, speakers. Over the next few years I bought power conditioners, power cords, IC.. Then this year I upgraded the speakers, and a DAC for the main items. And added in some AC duplex.           
So my new way better speakers had the stuff they needed to sound good right off. And I know as I upgrade other bits, the whole will get better too.
Consider an 833-A SET run at 1000 Volts through a Hammond 1642SE output transformer. At 1000 Volts it will draw about 140 ma which is just right for that triode transformer configuration with the grid bias at ground potential to make the circuit simpler. You can drive it with a 45 SET coupled through 4.5 to 4 K primary and a step-down of 8:1 with the secondary between the 833-A grid and one terminal of the 833-A cathode.
You may need some help from someone who has experience in making the 833-A work and you have to protect the 1000 Volt circuits from being possible for anyone to touch but this is not difficult.
I have been experimenting with this and I plan to use it to run a pair of Magnepan 0.7 speakers when I save up enough to buy them.