Best Integrated that you've heard under $5k

cd45123 and the winner is_____________

Line Magnetic 518IA  swapped in NOS 6L6GCs , 5751s and 5AR4 rectifier . New version of this amp is the 845IA , supposed to be even better

Perhaps audiophiles can correct my thinking on two or three counts:

(1) I thought power output was significant, thus the number of 250-400wpc amps on the market, but many of these integrated amps have 10-40wpc … are they designed for smaller speakers? Or to be used with a power amp (in which case what’s the benefit of “integrated”?) I listen to refurbished Ohm Walsh 4’s.

(2) I thought a high quality optical cable was one of the best ways to connect inputs but many of the recommended units lack that connection. As for “balanced” inputs the amp may accept them, but many input devices do not. What’s best?

(3) Many of these units have minimal controls, even on their remotes. For example, after volume and input selection, I want balance control (to adjust to where I sit in my 20’ x 30’ room, and subwoofer level control (since recordings seem to vary wildly in the bass range). Yet none (including the remote for  my Parasound Halo) have them. Why not?

I have 2 - 22wpc integrated amps that I switch in and out of my main system , they easily drive floorstanders that are 97.5 db sensitivity and 6 ohm impedance

I’ve never seen an integrated amp or a preamp that was connected to a source component via optical cable vs XLR or RCA interconnects.

I believe the H390 is very close to $6k.

'street price' is right around 5 grand - i bought mine new from a dealer last fall for just under that

Raven Blackhawk

I have the Raven Nighthawk for my Heresy IVs.  Already received some nice NOS tubes from Dave.  Best I’ve had or heard.    

Focusing only on the amp or prioritizing the amp without regard to the rest of the system, as if the amplifier is the key to a good system, is a beginners mistake. 

Linn always advised one to focus on the source:  get the best source you can: put the bulk of your time and money into your source. The recording quality comes first in this. A poorly recorded LP, or dirty [well recorded] LP is going to sound bad no matter what the system. In fact the better the system the more you will be hearing the flaws upstream. The LP or CD player or system and its synergy comes second.  A bad turntable support is going to 'make bad' a great turntable [support isnt an issue with CD gear]. The preamplifier quality is next in the 'Linn' hierachy. Next is matching the amp and speakers. Great speakers cant make a bad amp sound good.  Oh well.

I use a Belles Aria Signature and it lists for $4500 but I did not pay that...;-)

Muscular yet with finesse and it's a keeper.
Driving Dyn S-40's and soon Heritage Specials.

Line Magnetic 805IA, Leben CS600, both very special

Hegel H390 in my experience.  I preferred it to McIntosh MA352 (overly saturated and flat soundstage) and LTA Z10 (a bit thin sounding but amazingly transparent). I would put it up there with Pass XA25 and First Watt SIT-3 power amps I had before (using digital volume control, so no preamp influence there). Not quite as sweet and dense as the Pass stuff, but a little more detail, significantly more bass authority and cleanliness, bigger soundstage. Overall the Hegel is a better all rounder with a lot more features.  I got mine new for a good chunk under $5k.

I haven't heard the Coda CSiB but was looking hard at it before I went whole hog and replaced the Hegel with something much more pricey.

Aesthetix Mimas,
LFD mk. IV. 

Correction: LFD mk. VI.
Got it backwards. :-)))

Agree with Jake123 (from State Farm?). Need more info like
1. the speakers you are using and 2. the space you are listening in.
Small - Bakoon|Enleum. Large - Musical Fidelity NuVista 800. :D

For transistor, the Musical Fidelity M6si. Of course it depends on the speakers, cables, etc.. A perfect match for my Monitor Audio Silver 500s.

I just got a Peachtree nova 150
its unreal
ive used  separates for 50 yrs and  just love the sound of the nova 150
spending more is not always the ans

its hard to decide esp with v few audio salons to visit!

New Kora High Fidelity TB140 at any price

GaN Mini 5 for $750.00 you can not beat it period.

Crap it's not an integrated amp....even better.

 

have u tried CREEK AUDIO obviously not..have a look and dont complain any more

The audio market in my area has shrunk. There really isn't much to choose from at all. I wound up with a McIntosh MA5300. I can listen to it ALL day long.

I doubt any KT 120, 150  PP amp will  win out over this Yaquin 2A3 push pull, just arrived today.

Beats out my Jadis KT88.

 

 

 

 

"Also, if I've missed the cutoff and there's just this $6k or $7k amp that is worth consideration, feel free to mention".

If you're going to spend 6K, you might want to check out the Hegel H390. 

Line magnetic 845 IA.

FYI, there's a sealed box Hegel 390 under "New Today" for $4150.00 

IF you are exploring to purchase the PS AUDIO STRATA, I share my experience with you on this product:

I have owned the Stella Strata for about two months and to be blunt, it's been nothing short of a nightmare.

Basically the unit's streaming software does not work.

The unit repeatedly locks-up despite a few half hearted firmware updates released in May 2020:

Version 1.2.29
Date May 30, 2020
File image.bin
Description
Initial release.
 Fixes for logo led blinking and unit lockup
 Fixes for audio playing at zero volume
 Fixes for factory reset menu
 Fixes for no audio when playing SACDs via DMP hooked to Strata
 Fix for buttons not showing on pop-ups
 Fix for wifi enable
 Space char added to password character set.

This issue was well documented amongst the beta testers. I naively trusted PS Audio had fixed the issue when released it mid-2020.

As of Dec. 2021, even PS Audio customer support no longer responds as they have no clue on how to resolve this issue.

Despite a decent SQ, I strongly advise avoiding the PS Audio Strata.

It's clearly not ready for primetime and is cynically released to the public.

*As a follow-up - I ended up purchasing a $400 iFi streamer to bypass the software of a $3000 machine.

Just a complete waste of time and money. If you're an international customer, good luck with after-sales support

CD,

Lotta good stuff to choose from listed above.

What did you buy?

lol 509 Luxman is NOT in the price range 

I have a nice $7000 (I would sell for $4500) Musical Fidelity m8xi... Love it nice piece 550 x2 and at 4 ohm it is 870x2

LFD LE MKIII. I liked very much! Still going after the years.

I was a dealer when PS Audio introduced the GCC series (quasi integrated), some 20 years ago. I bought the GCC 250 which I still have in my TV system with AV123 Swan 6.1s. IF it ever dies, my first consideration would be for a GaN based with dif balanced in/outs (as does my GCC 250) And while either the Marantz 40N or the Technics SU-G700 MkII, are both based on GaN tech, and both under $3000, Interestingly the Technics matching SACD player has XLR outs, meaning it doesn't connect to its own integrated XLR to XLR. This may not be a concern to many, but dif balanced is how I roll: my audio only system is 100% dif balanced

You will get many responses. The Hegel is the budget "sweetheart" to many I have not heard the current models but was not impressed with earlier effforts. Primare sounded better(at that time) but have not listened to Primare’s current class D offerings.

New-Belles Aria Signature

Used-Norma Audio Revo IPA-140

Budget Used-Krell Kav-400xi- Marantz-PM S 11/2 or 3- Pass Labs-INT 30A

 

 

Cyrus Brenneman

Cavalier Plus!!   And by far!

Right at 5k: the Anthem STR. There’s a reason that it’s still a Stereophile class A rec. several years after it’s introduction.

The Raven Osprey.  

Honorable mention Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum ii.  With NOS tubes it comes close to the Raven and has more dynamics and power.