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Is There any Truly "High End" Integrated Amp?


I'm a reasonably well experienced audio nut and have tried a number of "good" integrated amps. I wonder, though, if there are integrated amps that are good enough for the "best", most revealing speakers. (Think Avalon Eidolon, Verity Parsifal, various JM Lab Utopias, and a variety of other fine speakers that do not have mammoth power requirements.)

People talk about the Levinson, the Musical Fidelity KW-500 and the lesser MF amps, the BAT integrated, The Rowland Concerto, etc. etc. etc.

I would like to hear from people who have actually tried the top tier of integrated amps and would be very interested in learning of their findings.

Don't need to be the most expensive. Could be the YBA Passion, Classe, MacIntosh 6900, Krell 400i, or any of a number of integrated amps that are supposed to sound good.

Hope to hear some good feedback.

Thanks very much.
jprice
sounds_great
2 posts
 

There have been many, many excellent integrated amps named in this forum thread. It seems to me, though, that the "best" amps are also the most expensive. (example the VAC Phi Beta).

Are these extraordinarily expensive integrated amps really "that much" better than the "for the rest of us" amps, or are they just "incrementally" better. Is, the VAC Phi Beta really three times better than a Musical Fidelity KW-500 or Rowland Concerto?

WHAT IS THE BEST INTEGRATED AMP "FOR THE MONEY" ? (If there is such a thing.)

I would love to find a top-notch integrated amplifier for under $5,000, or under $2500 or maybe even less.

Thanks for continued input.
hedgehog's avatar
hedgehog
144 posts
 
I tried to scan most of the posts, has anyone not recommended the Cary SLI-80? It has been out for a while, and isn't the latest rage in the audio rags. It is quite nice right out of the box, but with the insertion of some vintage NOS tubes, amazing. My room is 14' x 18', speakers rated 88dB by manufacturer, and it drives my speakers to very satisfying volume levels (ultralinear and triode modes).

Of course, everyone has different ideas of what sounds good/right. After deciding to get out of megabucks hifi (with "help" from the wife"), I ended up with the Cary...after trying about 6-7 of some of the other amps mentioned above. Is the 80 going to be the cat's meow for everyone, not a chance, but it is worthy of consideration.
listener57
730 posts
 
I think you are on the right path, realistically seeking to balance performance against price. Just look back at the posts for the moderate priced suggestions if you want to see a "for the money" Aronov Audio LS-960I which runs about $1200 used, and the company has converted from building new units to continuing as a repair facility.
There are quite a number of high value integrateds among the ones mentioned by all who posted to your thread. So, your real life budget plays the final role in which integrated makes the cut.
When you buy used there is very little risk since used prices have a way of staying relatively solid for good equipment. That's why many members have tried more than one integrated.
f1a
196 posts
 
Anyone hear Einstein's The Absolute Sound?
coffeey's avatar
coffeey
363 posts
 
cj does have one now,and i will bet its killer
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