Hi to everyone, I write form Italy.
I am a proud owner of the Luxman 509u class AB integrated amplifier.
I think it's one of the best int.amps in the world, very neutral and balanced sound, it's able to drive any speaker (Luxman demoed the 509u with B&W 802D) and to play every kind of music.
Very fast, dynamic sound with great extension on top and bottom end, great soundstage depht, the best bass control in an integrated amplifier, today.
In my room it drives B&W 803D speakers, cables are all (power cords, balanced interconnects and two pairs of speaker cables in biwire configuration) Cardas Golden Reference, source Luxman D06.
A Purepower APS 3000 regenerator will make the sistem complete (I ordered it two days ago). |
Tube: Leben
SS: Jeff Rowland Concentra II
Buy used |
Audiozen, I couldn't afford much back then. Later I want a Fisher 500, but they had been discontinued. I bought a Fisher 400T. My first transistor amp; what a joke! Strangely, I am back to all transistor equipment now.
I would love to be able to go back to those earlier times when I was convinced that I had good sound. I bet I didn't! |
Tbg..Too bad you couldn't afford back then the first stereo receiver in history from Harman, the Festival 1000, hooked up to a pair of AR speakers. My first system in the seventies was a pair of large Advents, a Dual 701 turntable
with a Shure V-15 cartridge, and the Sansui AU-7900 integrated amplifier at 75 watts into 8ohms..the sound was gorgeous.. |
Audiozen, yes it was and mono. Also Heathkits were good. And you put everything on a shelf and plugged it into the ac. |
Tbg..was one of your kits from David Hafler's Dynaco company? Very popular back then. |
Audiozen, sorry! I thought it sounded too much like sales rhetoric. I made my first kits in 1958. I am further down the hill, but still going strong. Give the LSA1 Statements a listen if you can. |
Kiwi_1282001, at the RMAF, I got my first listen to the Devialet. After a very few moments we left. It was nothing that I would want. |
What did you do Kiwi?..go fishing for numbers on anything out there?. The Devialet only weighs 14 lbs and is not a world class Analog integrated. It is a digital/analog hybrid with a class D modulator. Ho Hum..not in the same league as Simaudio. My focus is addressing an integrated that has the same low noise level's equal to the performance of the best separates. The Simaudio 700i weighs 54 lbs. and has power reserves that are not attainable in the Devialet. It is hard to find a high end analog integrated
that performs as well as the best separates. The Devialet is a great product for rich college kids in the U.K. since it comes with an Ipod docking station. ZZZzzzzzzz.... |
So Audiozen, if it is all about the S/N performance what do you think of the Devialet D-Premier? It cites a 130dB SNR and that my friend is without filters (unweighted). |
Tbg..No, I am not a dealer. Just an Audiophile for 35 years.
There is no way in hell I would buy a Magico speaker. I judge a product on longevity and word of mouth reputation over magazine hype that puts products ahead of the line based on annual advertising contracts. Simaudio has been around since 1980 and their separates I have heard over the years are very musical and rich sounding. As far as speaker's, there are three models out there today selling for under $10K that will perform as well as speakers costing up to $40K a pair. The Swans M6F at $3750.00 a pair. The new Polk LSIm 707 at $4K a pair, and the best under $10K speaker that Michael Kelly has made to date from Aerial Acoustics, the new 7T at $9850.00 a pair. |
You don't even have to listen music to decide what amp sounds best, makes life much easier. |
Audiozen, do you sell both Magico and Simaudio? |
Ghasley..the S/N number's I posted are on SS Integrated's only without phono stages. As always, the best way to test the noise from your component's is turn the volume/gain knob up
to max with no music signal and put your ear up against the tweeter. The best designs are as quiet as a tomb. Integrated's often have lower numbers since the amp/preamp are on one platform. Simaudio uses their patented Lynx or Renaissance circuit design which produces a much lower noise floor. For Sim to create an integrated with a S/N of 120 db's from the Pre section is a rare achievment. You will always hear some noise on very quiet low level music passages from a product with low numbers. It is subtle, but there. |
Audiozen and Kiwi, with all due respect......I believe the 69 S/N ratio being mentioned in an above post is an approximate for the PHONO STAGE S/N ratio, not the amp/pre-amp S/N Ratio.
My experience with VAC gear leads me to believe that the 69 is estimated on the low side...it would probably measure much better AND, 69 is quite good for a phono stage.
I've seen excellent stand alone phone stages that did not exceed the 69 that VAC conservatively approximates. For instance, Leben's new phono stage AT ITS BEST, measures in the mid 60's and that was after Atkinson of Stereophile had to perform some work to get it above the mid to high 40's.
VAC doesn't publish all of the numbers necessary for those who love keeping score at home, they just build great gear. To my knowledge, they have not published the S/N ratio of the amp/preamp sections.
Mine is dead quiet by the way and continues to get better and better....regards all. |
|
When deciding on a integrated amp for purchase, the most critical thing to look for are the noise level's. If the amp and preamp in the integrated have S/N levels below 100 db's than you will wind up with a noisy product So in your opinion the VAC Sigma 160i which has a glowing review above - but has a dismal 69 dB S/N ratio must be a flawed product? |
"The VAC integrated allowed me to get rid of three HRS isolation bases, three expensive power cords, and two pairs of reference interconnects - an investment about equal to the separate components.”
AinÂ’t it wonderful? |
When deciding on a integrated amp for purchase, the most critical thing to look for are the noise level's. If the amp and preamp in the integrated have S/N levels below 100 db's than you will wind up with a noisy product. The Gryphon Diablo amp S/N ratio is a terrible 88 db's. The Krell S-300i also has poor number's. Preamp S/N is 93 db's and the amp S/N is 94 db's. Vitus refuses to put their S/N
numbers on their website for the new RI-100 integrated. The best value integrated amp which is dead quiet and has a very rich musical quality is the Simaudio Moon 700i. The Preamp S/N is 120 db's. Thats damn impressive and hard to find an integrated anywhere with that high number. The amp section has a S/N of 105 db's. These are the kind of numbers you find in separate components. |
I recently purchased the VAC Sigma 160i integrated amp with MC phono and balanced input.
This integrated amp is detailed but liquid and smooth and the bass is completely authoritative without any bloom. The 160i is neutral (not tubey at all), with great air, transparency, and top-end extension. Soundstaging is deep, wide, and tall with excellent image density and separation.
I admit I was very, very hesitant to give up my separates, especially my Art Audio Vinyl Reference. The MC phono of the 160i, like the VR, uses Lundahl transformers, has a very similar sonic character, and to my ears is every bit it's equal. Due, I suspect, in no small measure to the short signal path and common ground made possible by the integrated platform. IMHO, Kevin Hayes has truly designed a tour de force for the vinyl lover.
I have absolutely No Regrets musically, financially, or aesthetically! The VAC integrated allowed me to get rid of three HRS isolation bases, three expensive power cords, and two pairs of reference interconnects - an investment about equal to the separate components. My music room is a whole lot less cluttered-looking to boot.
For anyone looking for true reference level amplification in an integrated package and who has speakers that can be driven with 85 tube watts per channel, the VAC Sigma 160i may well put an end to your search. I give it the highest possible recommendation.
FWIW, I have also owned the ASR Emitter Blue and can say the VAC 160i beats it hands down. Also, the ASR is really more of an "integrated in function" amp, than an "integrated package" because it is not a one-box solution.
Footnote: While the VAC "Alpha Integrated" was the 160i's immediate predecessor, the 160i is not in any way a derivative of the Alpha Integrated design. The latter was a merging of circuits already developed and used in the Phi preamp and Phi amps. The Sigma 160i was designed from scratch on a blank sheet of paper. This no doubt accounts for its almost magical musical reproductive abilities. While it lacks the "eye candy" and "audio jewelery" qualities of the venerable Phi Beta 110i, it is in every other way a most worthy successor. |
Mr A what type of amplifier is the Chord?
Class A, AB, or is it a D class amp?
I know you never thought much of D amps before,perhaps the Chord is an exception, or you finally tried one and found out that D amps can have some merit.I liked the sound of my Red Draggon D amps.Andre, have you figured it out yet?
Anyway, it's off topic, but when I had Acoustat medallian 3 speakers I used a Conrad Johnson MV75A-1 and a CJ premier 2 preamp, and this was all the power I need to make the Acoustats sing.
I also used to own a nice Cary 300sei,it was great integrated,perhaps not the right match in this case, but one never knows unitl one tries. |
Well i am using a Chord CPM-2600 with a Chord One Cd player with 81db Acoustat's 1+1s with very nice results i can tell you after living with Acoustat's electrostatics for more than 27 years this is no easy feat for any amplifier i know that there are better amps out there but for how much money ?????.
[IMG]http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/MrAcoustat/AndrSystme1600x1200.jpg[/IMG] |
I was fortunate enough to obtain a Dartzeel CTH-8550 integrated amp recently. I am not claiming it is the best integrated period as have not heard every integrated created in history. I doubt anyone has.
But it is so good as to give my CJ ACT2.2 and CJ Premier 350SA a run for its money and is threatening to replace it. The CJ combo is up there with the best pre and power out there at its price point so to have an integrated amp in the Dartzeel provide a very similar level of enjoyment says it all. |
ASR Emitter 11 system driving Dynaudio speakers are the speaker I use and have always had good luck with them, and I have yet to hear better. |
thanks for input .It always good to discover somenthing new .ASR Emitter 11 looks impressive inside |
I was quite impressed with the sound of the full ASR Emitter 11 system driving Dynaudio speakers.
Not cheap but I've heard more exotic and expensive systems of separates and full range speakers that didn't have as much going for them. |
If your system is any good at all at keeping itself turned on early on,then you can honestly say,YES! for this reason I would add Krell KAV500i.I like the power and attacking dynamics this amp provide with dynaudio confidence c1 |
How about the latest Goldmund Telos 390.2 with a buitin DAC. |
Neodio 600 Signature. It replaced a Air Tight 300b amp and a Joule Electra 300 ME preamp. Improved in all areas, clarity, micro & macro, depth, layering, soundstage ect. 100 watts of sonic bliss. The Neodio certainly qualifies as one of the top integrated you can buy. |
Having been at this great hobby we all share here since the early 70s,and I have very good ears I may add having them checked out at least every year no less, I have always found it very very beneficial to evaluate equipment that just arrived in your listening room early in the morning before your first cup of coffee,or tea,or drink,whatever you have first thing in the morning.Water is fine.If you continue listening on and tend to forget about your coffee/tea,then my friends you have something good going on there.If you just keep on listening till lunch and totally skip breakfast all together than you REALLY have something extremely musical happening in your space.Imagine the singers and musicians serenading you live from your open window early in the morning,would you even think of coffee or breakfast?It is a fact that upon just getting up from bed we are in a state of mind that that anything not sounding right,or correct,will reveal itself very faithfully to our ears and brain and we just cannot tolerate distortions early at the start of the day.However very well reproduced music with a very good system,like live music,is accepted as something good by the brain and we just continue on and dare not turn it off early in the morning after a short time listening.If your system is any good at all at keeping itself turned on early on,then you can honestly say,YES!,I have something going here.Next time around when evaluating your next Integrated amp,try this and you will end up with what You and only You will say is the best for your system.Believe me it never fails. Try to visit your dealer first thing in the morning and have your coffee after the visit.You may just walk out with a great integrated to enjoy the next morning Cheers! |
Not knowing the circumstances that led to your acquiring 2-Levinson integrateds (of course), I was only questioning why anyone would buy 2 of anything...assuming (that is) the second amp sounded much the same as the first???
My apologies if it came across as something more!
|
Not sure of your point rogalog. |
Thanks for your astute observations Sumitko!
It's also interesting that Brianmgrarcom has owned 2-No.383's, yet opines..."not the best nor close." Apart from having 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nads (not those NAD's) etc. etc., I've never owned 2 of anything. I have NOT (of course) heard them all...who has?
As I strap on another 'Depends' (eeewww), I CAN say...I've heard a few!
|
the original jadis orchestra is my favorite integrated amp. |
I have a new yamaha a-s2000 and I think this amp is one of the BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK integrated amp on the market right now ! It sounds like a good Class A amp..like the Luxman L590A MK2 or Accuphase! The Law Of Diminishing Returns kick in fast with a product like the Yamaha a-s2000 and the improves you get with a top of the line Luxman or Accuphase is very very SMALL !... The Yamaha a-s2000 is a Classic that we will talk about for a long time !.. |
NAD C375BEE....when music matters most! |
I still have my Sonic Frontiers Anthem Integrated 1 after 13 years, and THAT is saying something for an audiophile. The others have all gone after a few months, a year at the most. |
Any Chinese 845 will give you as much distortion and noise as 100000 good SS integrateds. You got a golden ear, man. |
Any Chinese 845 based output can be tweaked to sound better than any solid state integrated. |
Symphonic line RG10 MK4, the best integrated I have every heard. Very powerful yet sublime !! |
I used to love integrateds:
went along those lines:
Perreaux i150 (early model with Audiostatics)
Bow ZZ1
Krell iL300
then a step up:
Einstein light in the dark (OTL based on mosfets, changed to Merlin vsm mxe by then)
Accuphase E550
Pathos TT
Both of those two are absolute wonders in sound, I could imagine that the Inpol2 ist an amazing amp, as both Accu and Pathos did run a bit out of steam..
Since then I moved to Berning,that does it for me, but its not strictly integrated ;-) |
Having owned quite a few integrated amps and listened to many more, I have to agree with USB, the dartzeel is pretty remarkable, lightning fast, but smooth and detailed. If I could only afford it, I'll just have to wait a few years till one comes up second hand. Why would anyone sell one? |
I have never heard it, but I wonder if the Lindemann 882 Integrated should be part of the conversation? What about Luxman Gear, the 509u? |
I've owned two No.383's, great design, but not the best nor close. |
Rogalog statement above looks to be the best I have read regarding the best integrated ever,the Great Mark Levinson 383 Integrated.Why would a great marquee like Mark Levinson come out with an integrated at all if it was not a true great integrated.Lets put it this way and if you were smart and loaded and had a couple of Rolls Royces in your garage and needed a do it all SUV or station wagon with the same performance as your main cars,wouldnt you buy a Rolls or Bentley station wagon if they ever made one.Ten or twenty years from now your ML-383 would still hold its own both in sonics and re-sale value down the road like gold does.The other contenders would have turned to ????. I have heard the ML-383 and it was surrounded by the best preamps and amps ever made in the same showrooms and it stood its ground very very proudly. |
I'm looking at downsizing my system, want to try something different. Currently I use an Ayre KX-R preamp and two MX-R monoblocks, with Proac Response D80 speakers. Sounds great. The dealer wants me to listen to the Rowland Continuum 500. To those of you who bought a 500 a few years ago, I'd be interested to know if you still have it, has it changed with time, and are you still happy with your purchase. Or, have you moved on to greener pastures? |
Dartzeel. I replaced my Tenor mono block amps, phono preamp, two amp stands and cables and bought the Dartzeel. I have no regrets, the Dartzeel does everything right. |
My short list to listen to:
Ayon Triton (probably not enough power but worth taking a flyer on)
VAC Phi
LSA Statement
Simaudio 600i or 700i
Krell FBI
The Dart, Vitus and Demidorff Diamond would be tempting to listen to but out of my league financially. The VAC i believe is discontinued. Hmmmm....should I have added Burmester to the list? |
Love my Chord 3300. Beautiful sound and built like a tank. |
"The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be"...Mark Levinson No.383!
Bret "The Hitman" Hart quote aside, it's the best solid state integrated I'VE heard (owned). As a 1-box solution for 2-channel audio (why else would you buy an integrated)...it doesn't get much better than this!
Just my $0.02 CAD! |
