I am tired of the Pre-amp+Power-amp game. So, I am in the quest of finding a really really good integrated amp, preferably used, so I can save some money off the original price. Right now, I have a pair of Triangle Celius (92db), but I would like the amp to be able to drive other not-so-sensitive speakers.
What is the best integrated amp you've ever listened to?
The Sugden A21se is easily the best I’ve heard in my system. It is intoxicating to listen to. I think Herb Reichert put it best..."Trust me folks, class-D is like fake cocaine compared to the rolling, relaxed, shroom-like beauty of the Sugden A21 SE’s midrange. J. E. Sugden & Co Ltd. has been making amps in the UK since 1967 (!!), and they are always warm-running, sweet-sounding, heart-pounding, class-A."
Three yrs ago i came across a Symphonic Line La Musica and i'm glad i bought it. This is an end game type of amplifier. Huge soundstage, speed, transparency and pinpoint imaging. Not to mention a reference mm/mc phono stage. The more i listen to it the more i like it and i was a tube guy at heart.
this amazing integrated is basically the companies 19k amp and19k preamp in onechassis for 23k
the3100 has an update path and can befitted with an analog room eq or a phono card and you can add the p3000 outboard power supply which takes the performance up considerably,
the build quality is stellar
the amp will drive anything
it has a huge sound stage is tonnaly warm yet has great detail
The new Agostino progression integrated amp is pretty awesome. The Dartzeel CTH is a truly great integrated amp as long as you go single ended with the connections.
Used IMO the best one is the Gryphon Diablo 300 and it is the one i'm going to purchase.Otherwise best one i've heard at any price is by far the Audionet Humboldt.
After more than three weeks of 24/7 play, the heavily modified/upgraded
amp has "shifted gears" and sounds wonderful. It is faster, more
authoritative, and more articulate than both the stock Pathos TT and my
2011 upgrade. Those big Dueland Cast PIO tinned copper capacitors are a
revelation. Noise floor, clarity, timbre, tone density, soundstaging,
etc. - everything is improved over the previous version. Together with
the ZR Acoustics panels I am getting the best sound of my life.
Forward to 2020 for Pathos TT RR major modification part 2:
Nine
years after my 2011 capacitor upgrade I decided to "shoot the works"
with a 2nd upgrade to try to make the amp the best it could possibly be.
After discussing the amp and in particular its age (made in 2006) with
the folks at Pathos I decided to replace the big red capacitors, the
mother board, and power chip boards with the latest versions. The 1uf
coupling capacitors are now "world's best" Dueland Cast PIO Tinned
Copper Foil, and key resistors were replaced with Vishay Z-Foil.
Internal wiring was replaced with Stage III Concepts silver and Dueland
tinned copper hookup wire, and Bybee Music Rails were added. It is
breaking in now but is already clearly on a whole different level from
the previous iteration and significantly better in all aspects than my
modified Unison S6. Note that when the remote control circuitry failed I
had it replaced with a vintage Alps "Black Beauty" volume pot, which
sounds better to me. Kudos to Bill Thalman of Music Technology, Inc.
who did a superb job on this project and on the Unison S6 upgrade that
preceded it. See my photo gallery.
One of the finest integrated ampliifers we have ever used, is the T+A HV 3000, $18k and its slightly newer bigger brother the 3100 at $23k.
Absolutely amazing, expensive but for the quality very reasonably priced.
The T+A HV 3000 was compared to $120k worth of CH Precision gear and Allan Taffel from TAS was having difficulty telling the difference so this gear is actually a bargain for the quality.
If you are in the market for a one box soloution this is one of the finest.
My first post. I have the following setup and am extremely pleased with the sound I have. I have not had the opportunity to listen to many other amplifiers. Bryston, Simaudio, Cambridge 840v2, MacIntosh, AR. I have listened to some Harbeth, Vienna, WLM, B&W 801d and a few others over the years. I have come across a few good deals to put together the following which represents the best I've heard to date ( insert laughter here ). Honestly I do listen to a lot of music, several hours per day on average, jazz, indie, classical, folk and still get a great deal of pleasure from it.
Ascendo system F loudspeakers (6 ohm) Perreaux 150i integrated amp ( 290w into 6ohm according to Martin at Perreaux) Weiss DAC 2 balanced connection to amp and firewire to Mac mini. Mac mini serving FLAC and high res FLAC through Squeezebox duet ( bypassing onboard DAC) OR direct via PureMusic s/w Using Mogami 3104 bi-wire
Listening space is a large open room with high ceilings going from 12' to 22' and average 22' wide by 45' long. Main listening area is approx 15'x15'.
I am curious though to get feedback on what I might expect in terms of improvements if I were to consider a different/"better" amplifier configuration? I prefer to stay with solid state. Prefer integrated but would consider separate pre/power if it made enough improvement. Many generate too much heat (class A amps) for my furniture/placement. I get the sense I'd have to spend considerably more $$ to see a marked inprovement. Am I wrong?
Agree with Hakuchosan -- Accuphase E450 driving our Magico's with ease and delivering an amazing level of detail. Not missing anything here... I have listened to much more expensive systems, and wouldn't want to switch.
My modified Pathos TT RR is the best integrated amp I've heard, and one of the handfull of best amplifiers I've heard. The stock Pathos TT is already a superb amp, however with capacitor and resistor upgrades it gains speed, dynamics, three dimensionality, and bass slam without losing any of the extraordinary timbral accuracy and SET-like sweetness of the stock unit. The best "bang for the buck" upgrade is replacing the four 1uf coupling capacitors. I had mine replaced with Mundorf Silver/Gold/Oil, had a couple of other capacitors replaced with Blackgates, and several resistors upgraded to Audionote. Still to come: Bybee Music Rails.
Im using a New Audio Frontiers Supreme 300b Special Edition. Its a stop listening to your system with audiophile ears and just start enjoying the music type of component.
I have been using integrated amps for about 10 years, Karan, Lavardin, Viva and a number of others. Al were good, except the Karan K180, I did'nt like at all. The 2 I have at the moment are the best so far. Firstly Pathos Inpol2, a hybrid Class A 50 watt amp. Secondly, an Ayon Spark, 20 watt SET. Both are truly excellent and sound similar, detailed transparent, good soundstage, very musical. the best though, clearly to me, the Dartzeel integrated, 8050 is it. Just wonderful, but out of my price range I am afraid.
Totem made an integrated way back when. It was an ugly thing, shaped like a semi-cylinder. But it sounded fantastic (especially for a SS integrated amp to someone who has a clear preference for tubes). I've never heard the Totem Forests sound any better than with their own integrated amp.
I've never seen one on Audiogon, and suspect that the one I listed to at my (then) local dealer was relatively rare.
LSA Signature integrated is the best amp that I have owned or listened to. I have always been interested in the Mac stuff but never got around to hearing one.
After exploring various integrateds over the past few years; Jolida, Rogue and CJ tubed, and Krell and Musical Fidelity solid state, and while all fine integrateds with various strengths and limitations, I have finally settled on a CJ CA200 solid state and am very satisified with the overall presentation, impact and delicacy. It is quite tube like in many ways but doesn't soften the dynamic impact when called for. Also images float in the air above, to the sides and behind the plane of the speakers. Used, this is truly a highly refined and bargain amp.
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