All-in-one integrated, 10-15K range, class A/B only

I’ve only read one review on the Mac, and it didn’t sound great either, but was just listi g for the OP. After the gushing review I first read on the Hegel, I went to look for more, as you never know if they could be a fan boy as you suggested. I found quite a few, some English, an Australian one, a few in the US , and they all seemed to say the same thing, when it’s that overwhelming I start to take notice. It sounds like the Dac alone is worthy of the price of admission, and the rest was equally as good. The one thing they did all ding it one, is a look that matched the price, the painted logo and same look they use on their lower priced models didn’t give an image of luxury, but in the end the sound is all that matters. Not as  much WAF involved with an amp as there is with speakers. 

Hegel H590

McIntosh MA9000 

Been reading reviews on the ones people have been posting about here and that Hegel seems to really be getting the best reviews, sounds like they feel the dac in it alone justifies the price. Not a brand I’ve heard about until more recently, may need to check that out myself

I’m talking about professional reviewers, not owners. It’s amazing how people will demean the professional reviewers as just paid advitisers, but now people who own them ( which I have not looked at any of those yet) are fanboys. It makes it seem like there’s an agenda and that a company that normally dosnt play in that price point shouldn’t be allowed. Their status image isn’t up to snuff. I listen with my ears. I don’t buy status. The names you mentioned have indeed earned their status and recognition, but that dosnt mean a lessor know player can’t also. Unless having heard those products, I’m not sure how such a statement could be made. I have not heard most of those first hand. So I cannot make judgement directly, only trying to respond to the ops question, and I enjoy learning about the products, so I’ve read up on most of the ones posted here and just noticed the great feedback from the Hegel. 

If you go the route of using a separate dac/ streamer, try the Naims. Even the entry level model has great sound. 

The reviews all said the 390 was great for its price but that the 590 was on a different level, and the 590 is well within the budget, so might as well get the best for the money willing to spend. If wattage was the only difference and didn’t feel the need for then that’s different. Having said that it sounds like speakers arnt set yet and I do believe I saw Maggie’s 20.7 mentioned as a possibility( they can suck up lots more power than 300 watts no problem) And also that he was looking to go with efficient speakers so much this time. Based on that, I’d look into as much power as possible, and for anyone who bass is a big deal, the more power, the better the control over the bass.