Best of the best Integrated amps in 2018

No love for Constellation's various models, CH Precision, or the Ypsilon Phaethon?

I've had extensive listening exposure (many long sessions over a 2 year period) with the Absolare Altius preamplifier and Signature 845 PSET  mono blocks. Superb sound quality! (Very expensive however) I have not heard their integrated amplifier but I suspect it is an excellent high quality component. 
Charles 

Audion 300b Silver Night Anniversary. 8 watts of pure tonal bliss driving my Zu Soul Superflys into their sweet spot with no issue filling a 16x18 room. 

@david_ten Congrats on the new T+A purchase. Enjoy. I will hopefully be hearing the 845 SET monos and the new hybrid monos (just announced at Munich) later this summer.  Definite contenders for future upgrade. That said, the Integrated's sound is pretty much end game for me. I wasn't left wanting for anything more.  That was a first for me. 

Definitely a vote for the Lyric Ti140 MK2....not in the same price class as some of these but magical, 70 wpc with KT150s.

+1 regarding the vote for the Lyric Audio Ti140 Mk2.

Recent additions of a new power conditioner and speaker cabling elevated my system performance, with the Lyric Audio in it, to something remarkably special. ’Magical’ as @nitewulf puts it.

Lyric Audio also has the new Ti200 available. It offers EL34, KT88, KT120, KT150 (and variants) in Class A Ultralinear Parallel SE topology.

it's all good to excellent stuff and not exhaustive... I second the suggestion to add the ASR! I would put the McIntosh at the bottom of the list without any doubt, and the Audionet, Gryphon, Pass, CH, Soulution, Boulder, Dartzeel at the top, and the rest in between. Where does that bring us all, well it brings us all to like my taste..hahaha!!!!  

I am really, really curious about the Gryphon...if anyone in NYC has one and would allow me to have a listen, that'd be fantastic.  

We are a Vitus dealer located in S CA if anyone is interested in listening to the SIA-025 Integrated.

Thank You - cakeaudioHappy Listening!

For SS, the Dart CTH is sublime and comes with phono which separates it from the pack.

For P/P tube, I'd probably try with the new Vac 170iq which is getting excellent reports - it also has a phono option.

Elizabeth, I think some people just want to simplify things and get off the upgrade express. Integrated amps have come a long way and many of them are justifiably considered 'destination' purchases that provide many of the same qualities of separates without the boxes and cable and stuff everywhere. I can see the appeal.

Will the Pass and Gryphon, for example, easily outclass fairly well regarded tube pre-amp/SS power amp separates in the $10,000 price range (combined)?

The Gryphon Diablo 300 surely will.

You can add the Luxman L-509X.

IIUC Boulder will come out with a replacement for the 865. The 866 will now come with an integrated dac, so similar setup to the McIntosh MA9000.

@gekolounge Do u have a time frame for the Boulder 866?

thieliste
how is your integrated amp search?  Happy Listening!

I vote Devialet. It’s better than most if not all of the ones mentioned. 

Check out the Kinki Studio EX-M1. 

These 3 seem interesting:

Vitus RI-101
Gryphon Diablo 300
T+A 3100 HV

The Gryphon Diablo 300 surely will.

You can add the Luxman L-509X.

I have a factory upgraded Cary Audio SLP-05 with nice NOS tubes paired with 200.2 SS power amp. Wondering what expectations are rationale to move to one these SS integrateds? With Focal Diablo Utopia speakers and Shunyata Denali power conditioning?

jh901, I completely agree with you on your four choices of integrated amps. From all I have heard, these are also my top 4. I bought the T+A.

My pick would also be the T+A 3100 HV as best integrated for my needs but i will most likely go the separates route.

The T+A lists for $23,500 in the USA though. Huge leap from the Gryphon or Vitus (no add-ons such as phono or DAC). I just wonder how good these two could be compared to somewhat hi-end separates such as mine. And then, the T+A is another matter. Will there be a sonic pay off?!

@jmac7 how would Line Magnetic 508ia sound with focal scala?

I never thought I would be engaging a thread on integrated amps, but I am excited to be doing so.  I am an Audio Research fan and built my separates system over the past 3 years to finally have a REF lineup:  REF 3 linestage, REF 2 PHONO & REF 150 amp.  I was loving it so much and then one day a couple months ago I saw a GSi75 for a seemingly great deal and figured, why not?!?!.  

My initial impression was......WOW!!  It sounded beautiful...maybe a bit brighter compared to the separates.  It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just first feeling.  

Prior to this I listened to vinyl exclusively.  Now I have a well-reviewed DAC on board so I picked up a Node 2i.  I tried a Vault 2 a couple years ago but at that time had to go analog out and was very disappointed in the sound compared to vinyl.  It also required an ethernet cable which doesn't work well for my setup so I sold it.  I find the coax sounds much better than optical.  I have been enjoying Amazon Music HD and find some albums sound almost the same.  Sometimes the digital is too bright for me, but it offers a nice opportunity for new music without having to sacrifice so much SQ.

I don't anticipate getting a set of headphones, but nice to have the option.  Overall I am just giddy over how much I am enjoying the aesthetics of a cleaner system and I am loving the design more and more.  It is a major leap from traditional ARC design which is fine by me.  ARC hasn't ever offered such an integrated and I don't suspect they ever will again.  This goes against the typical ARC owner of constantly buying the next model of said component.  It will definitely tame my upgrade-itis.  Having separates lends itself to slowly upgrading each category over time while now it is find a whole new integrated solution or jump back in to separates.  I joke with my friends that now I am on the 5-year plan...no major audio purchases for me LOL.  

I will purchase a used Gryphon Diablo 300 within the next few months to drive a pair of Thiel CS 3.7s.As a source i will get the Aqua Formula xHS - LinQ combo.This will be my system for the next 10 years at the most and after that i will build a reference system all separates.