Well they say the best integrated amp is the integrated amp you would buy today if you were in the market. My first choice would be a Vitus SIA-025. Lots of power, smooth analogue sound & sounds tube-like. Knocks the socks off any other integrated i've heard.
Showing 17 responses by melbguy1
01-03-13: TpreavesI do apologize for challenging Steve's comment. As they say, ignorance is bliss.. |
Fla, I wasn't aware of the Phaethon until you mentioned it. Yeah that integrated is approaching the price territory of the Vitus. I heard the top flight Ypsilon gear at the Melbourne Audio & AV show this year including the mono's, twin SET-100's, pre, dac, transport, phono stage & SUT and was impressed with warm, inviting and musically engaging sound. Though the Continuum Caliburn might have helped a bit ;) |
12-06-14: MbovairdWell my brother owns an MF M6i and I thought that sounded cold and unmusical. Yes, the Nu-Vista 800 would be much better, you can only get so much out of a business model like theirs. Musical Fidelity remind me of the loudest kid in the class who is really just a mid-fielder. I find their pr irritating, and some of their claims outlandish to be honest. Comments like "new mega super integrated" underscore how they trade on slogans. Much of the technology they portray as their own pioneering work (with the exception of the nuvistor tubes) has been used for decades by high end companies like Boulder and Vitus. This is a very good amp, yes. But it's not in the same league as the amps I mentioned. |
Calvin, all members on here can do is pass on their advice based on their relative experience and budgets. There is no substitute for auditioning gear (preferably with a brand/type of speaker you like). That's the only way you've find out what sounds good to your ears. Before I bought my Vitus integrated, I listened to the Bladelius Thor Mk3, Rowland Continuum 500, Audio Flight Two, Boulder 865, Dartzeel CTH-8550, Vitus RI-100 & Vitus SIA-025 before finding out what I liked. Let us know where your journey ends. |
The amp I mentioned earlier has *plenty* of power and can drive most speakers with ease. Heck it drives my 88db, 4 ohm S5's in a medium size room...no problem. But power without magic is is just impressive for a while, then the novelty wears away when you realize something is missing from the music. As an audiophile of 24 years, I've learnt judging an amplifiers ability to control a given speaker load based on headline figures like RMS power is folly. An amp's ability to produce high current, remain stable under load and operate as efficiently as possible are the more important factors imho. For example, most audiophile toroids lose up to 25% voltage, whilst the SIA-025's UI-core transformer lose 1.5% max (tested). But that's really only the start of the story of what makes an amp sound good. |
Seems someone belly ached about me pointing out how a certain member here flips his gear more than Snoop Dog changes his shoes, and thus has no credibility. I actually don't care about other member's opinions. I'm content I know exactly what direction I want to take with my system and how to achieve it. I'm just methodically executing each step in the process. Effusive statements about how great the latest "flavor of the month" is don't impress me at all. I get bored and go back to my music. |
The amp I mentioned earlier has *plenty* of power and can drive most speakers with ease. Heck it drives my 88db, 4 ohm S5's in a medium size room...no problem. But power without magic is is just impressive for a while, then the novelty wears away when you realize something is missing from the music. As an audiophile of 24 years, I've learnt judging an amplifiers ability to control a given speaker load based on headline figures like RMS power is folly. An amp's ability to produce high current, remain stable under load and operate as efficiently as possible are the more important factors imho. For example, most audiophile toroids lose up to 25% voltage, whilst the SIA-025's UI-core transformer lose 1.5% max (tested). But that's really only the start of the story of what makes an amp sound good. |
12-10-14: CalvinjHere is lesson in making assumptions; I wasn't responding to your comment. |
Hi Calvin, I only heard the Audia Flight 2 briefly, but it sounded quite lively (dynamic), neutral in tone (perhaps with a touch of warmth) and quiet. The remote is nice, but a bit fiddly to use. The RI-100 punches well above its weight for what you get. It offers tremendous power and control & will drive any real world speaker load. The RI-100 is a 300watt class a/b amp. It has Vitus essential house sound being that fluid, expressive, analogue-like sound. The RI-100 is much more propulsive and lively in the bass of course than the AF2. It is a little warm, but on the slightly dark side of neutral to my ears. One really remarkable thing about this amp is the way it can adapt to and sound terrific with a range of speakers. That said, Vitus has known synergy with Magico. This guy paired an RI-100 with this Q7's! With the above said, my Vitus SIA-025 is even more pure, mellifluous and resolving & also sounds warmer operating in Class A. It is the more sophisticated of the two, but the RI-100 is good. Very good for the money. |