2. amps-preamps
  3. 1136848549

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.
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dlanselm
111 posts
 
Hello Fla,

On Esoteric's website is called the A-100, that is the correct name, my mistake.

This amp is at home in my current system.

David
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jprice OP
50 posts
 

I continue to be impressed by the Jeff Rowland Continuum 500. I am now using the amp to drive a pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento speakers and the sound is superb!!!!

As they say :"Try it, you'll like it"!
semi
646 posts
 
Jprice, if you like the Rowland so much, why are you selling it already?

since you also own Guarneri Memento, you should give BAT tube amp a try.
semi
646 posts
 
Jprice, if you like the Rowland so much, why are you selling it already?

since you also own Guarneri Memento, you should give BAT SE tube amp a try.
bmckenney
91 posts
 
Not sure if anyone has mentioned the LSA integrated amps in this thread or not. MDW of Bound For Sound gave the Signature version an unofficial component of the year award a couple of years back. MDW has listened to a lot of integrated amps and of course separates. I could quote him as saying it was finally the first integrated amp that doesn't give up anything to separates (expensive ones). I have his review amp, and I am very impressed with it.

I can just imagine there are many true high end integrated amps out there these days. Take any one of them, put them in the right synergy and technically matched system that matches a persons preferences and a good room, and it should satisfy the most discriminating audiophile.

Frankly, I don't really care if its separates or an integrated, as long as it sounds great. I didn't get my LSA because i was looking of an integrated. I got it because I know it had good synergy with my speakers.
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