Best Integrated, period.

LFD LE Mk. IV Signature. IMHO this is an extremely high value and well balanced SS integrated amp that just sounds right. I've been fortunate to visit audio salons domestically/internationally and have heard this integrated with many different combinations of sources, speakers, cables and music. Dr. Bews has refined the design and component selection over many years and created some real magic. We ended up with the Mk IV Sig, Harbeth C7ES3, LFD interconnects and speaker cables, analog and digital front ends are all holographic!

Jayh31,

LFD Spirolink (1 meter) interconnect for phono....Kimber Hero for all other sources. To my ears, the Kimbers sound just as sweet.

I have 2 pr of speaker cables....LFD Spirolink I (3 meters), and Hybrid ribbon (3 meters). Both cables are very very good. With my Harbeth C7ES3, the hybrid ribbon cables have the slight edge with more lower end weight. But you really can't go wrong with either as these cables are so synergistic with the LFD Mk IV and NCSE.

Jayh31, I heard and read the same before I bought the LFD Spirolink I and the LFD Hybrid Ribbon speaker cable pairs. Most of this reading came from the usual suspects (LFD dealers).

You have to let your own ears guide your decision based on comparisons to whatever it is that you have now. For me, the LFD Spirolink was a step up from the Tara Labs (Quantum III) I had been satisfyingly using for over a decade with several other amps (Acoustat TNT-120, ARC 100.2, Anthem Statement A2 and finally the LFD Mk IV). The Spirolinks were such a positive experience that in under a month, I purchased a pair of the LFD Hybrid Ribbons in England and these remain in my system now. It was a $350 learning experience (see listing lol). Have not heard the Nordost, so can't comment there.

Airegin, thanks for the guidance. Have just had a commit for my Mk. IV. Headed to the NCSE ver 1once the deal is complete !!! We have a new LFD convert in our midst.......

Hi Jay, auditioned the NCSE for over 2 weeks. The low end weighting and overall balance is subtly, but definitely sweeter IMHO compared to the LE IV. Experimented more and discovered a slight reposition of my C7-ES3's made further improvements in balance and wider soundstage. Never noticed this with the LE IV in the year+ I owned it and tweaked spkr position, cables, etc. The NCSE certainly brought more to the table than expected.

About halfway through the NCSE trial though, I also auditioned some separates that were stunning, and ended up keeping those instead.