2. amps-preamps
  3. 156161-95752

Best Integrated Amp for KEF Reference 1s Under $5K New or Used

Hi all

New to the forums here. I recently acquired a set of KEF Reference 1s and am running them with a Primaluna Dialog Premium HP Integrated Amp with KT120s installed. Sound is very good but these speakers are apparently quite power hungry so I would like to at least do an in-home trial of another integrated with more power, to see if I am missing out on anything.

So two questions really:

1. Do you think I would benefit from an amp with more power and/or solid-state technology?

2. What integrated amp under $5K new or used would you recommend?

Some more relevant points:
  • I am only considering integrated amps due to space constraints
  • I am absolutely open to buying lightly used equipment
  • I only listen to vinyl and already have a very good Herron Audio standalone phono stage
  • I also listen on headphones so need a very good headphone port
  • I don't need a built in DAC, bluetooth, tone controls, rumble filter or any other bells and whistles
So in summary all I really need is a single line-in connection, built-in headphone amp and volume control.

Thanks in advance.
dworkman

Showing 1 response by dworkman

dworkman OP
12 posts
 
I listen to a lot of rock and pop so big dynamics and soundstage matter a lot.  But I do also listen to quiet music too so clarity and refinement matter as well.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.  That Anthem keeps getting mentioned a lot in various threads.  The Hegel H360 is mentioned a lot too, any thoughts on that?

I'd never heard of Jeff Rowland.  Certainly sounds like the polar extreme of the Primaluna, being Class D solid state.  Intriuging.
More to discover