I am looking for help selecting an amplifier to match my Revel F228Be speakers.

What aspects of system/amp performance and sound reproduction are most important to you?

Before you jump ship, would you be willing to try out a fuse upgrade on the NAD?  Stock fuses typically sound bright/harsh/sterile.  They could definitely be influencing that screechy characteristic.  I have found that a fuse upgrade almost always fixes this problem.

My favorite has always been Furutech fuse, but they are discontinued.  You could try a Synergistic BLUE or even an Audio Magic Super Fuse  (DO NOT get the beeswax fuses - they push too hard).  Also, do not get Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme.

Just a thought.

Mark Levinson would seem to be a natural match since they are designed with Revel. You might also consider the Krell K-300i I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by it in a show setting,  Or since you seem to like the YBA sound these look like a good deal in a pair of monoblocks.....

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649625475-yba-passion-1000-mono-pairs-x-2/

I heard the Revel F228Be speakers in a couple different systems at RMAF a couple years ago.  I could tell the Revel Be were something special.  One of the systems was driven by the Levinson integrated.  It has absolutely excellent bass, but I just did not like the sound of the Levinson.  Like some other high bias bipolar Class A amplifiers, the Levinson really smooths over the upper mids/highs and presents a non-neutral coloration to the sound.  You really have to listen to Levinson first to see if you are one of the people who like it.

soix,  I spend a lot of my time  listening to female vocalists. Daina Krall, Patricia Barber, Eva Cassidy, Tracy Chapman, Karen Carpenter, Mary Black,  etc. I like a nice focused center image, where I can close my eyes and she standing there in front of me. The speakers disappear. I also enjoy classical and flamenco guitar and want clear, detailed , natural sound.... 

Just my opinion:

I would avoid getting an integrated amp with DAC. Flexibility when it comes choosing a DAC that just sounds right to me is important. (Same goes with phono stage.) Happy listening! 

I have a pair of Revel f208 towers, Benchmark DAC 2 HGC & Bluesound Node 2i along with a Rega Planar 8. I am about 70% vinyl and 30% hi‐res streaming. I run everything with an Arcam SR250 and am very pleased with my current setup. I realize the beryllium tweeter in your towers is not the same as the sb acoustics tweeter Revel uses in my F208s but I have no issues with high end harshness. Arcam is part of the Harman family now as well so maybe it is worth giving the higher end Arcam stuff a listen. That being said, your budget is a little higher than mine so ymmv. Good luck.

ericnicky,

I am assuming you are looking for an integrated?  

You couldn't go wrong with the 585.

If I was looking for an integrated in the $7K range, the Luxman L-509X would probably be my first choice. 

If you stretch the budget a little bit, you are also in striking distance of a used darTZeel CTH-8550 which would be top shelf.

If you are wanting just a straight power amplifier, a number of other things come to mind...Rowland 625, Krell 302e, ARC Ref 75SE or REF 150SE.  All these would work great and can be bought used for pennies on the dollar.

You'e made a great choice with the 228BE.   I had 208's for an extended period of time and now have had Salon2's for a few years.  Haven't had a chance to hear the 228BE or 328BE but I'd sure like to......

Along different lines, and I am honestly not sure of the results you would achieve, but you could buy a Schitt SYS passive pre for $50 and place it between your preamp and NAD.  To level match the NAD volume (reduce it) to that of the YBA so both are on an equal footing?

As you can tell, I am not sure this will work, but you can even return the SYS within the trial period if it doesn't.

Jetter, that's an interesting 'cheap' experiment to consider. I am using the DAC2 as a preamp currently. so not sure how the SYS would connect.

Auxinput, also a relatively inexpensive to try with a fuse change. I never heard of a fuse change making a sonic change. Can you help me understand the rational?

thanks,

Used Ayre AX 5 Twenty plus streamer DAC or VX 5 Twenty plus a streamer preamp DAC. Ayre power is perfect for the Revels. The MA9000 is also good, but less resolving. 

Nice speakers. If you can do separates there was a McCormack DNA-500 available for $3300 on US Audio Mart, and paired with something like a loaded Don Sachs tube pre for $2500 I think you’d hear some real magic from your Revels. Another good pre option would be a Linear Tube Audio MZ2 (with upgraded power supply) that also happens to be an excellent headphone amp as well if that matters. Regardless, given your sonic preferences I would not continue to use the Benchmark as your preamp.

If it has to be an integrated, a hybrid tube/SS model like the Pathos Logos or Unison Unico 150 would likely sound beautiful with your speakers. Upscale Audio has a used Unico 150 available now for $3300 that would obviously save you quite a bit of $$$. But another possible outstanding option is a Vitus RI-100 integrated on US Audio Mart for $5750 that retailed for $13,000.

I’d opt for a separate DAC rather than relying on one built into an integrated. To me, the DAC is far too important to leave to chance or be tied down to one built into another component. Given your music and sonic preferences, I’d strongly consider a tubed R2R NOS DAC from the likes of MHDT or AudioMirror.

For a streamer I’d get an Innuos Zen Mk3 that can also rip and store your discs so you can have access to all your music from your chair. Hope this helps, and best of luck in your search.

Auxinput, also a relatively inexpensive to try with a fuse change. I never heard of a fuse change making a sonic change. Can you help me understand t

stock fuses are usually made with low grade metals (such as nickel or tin).  Also, we have electrical and mechanical resonance that makes its way into the fuse.  The fuse is a small wire that is stretched across two points.  A/C power is applied to the fuse at 60 hz (60 waveforms per second) and will also have it's own noise and resonance. Think of it as a guitar string vibrating in air.  Additionally, the glass case also can resonate mechanically from vribrations.

All this electrical resonance prevents the wire from charging smoothly.  The result is generally a bright and harsh sound, but can also be lack of bass.

Upgraded fuses use much better metal components (copper or copper alloy).  They also have anti-vibration material inside the fuse casing, such as powder or a liquid.  Some use cermic casing instead of glass, which also reduces resonance.

auxinput, thanks for the explanation. This helps explain why a fuse retails for $125.

Thanks to all for the great suggestions, much food for thought. It is so hard to decide when you can't hear the sound with your own ears.

I have the Revel F328Be's paired with a McIntosh MA-8900. I really like the sound from the DAC in the Mac but I think my Schiit Yggdrasil (A2) is better. So I am running my server to the Yggy and then on to the amp via XLR. The sound right now from the combo of the Revels with the Yggy & McIntosh is very impressive, I am loving it!

I am auditioning a Vitus RI-100 tonight.

Well, I bought the Vitus RI-100. It's a monster 300WPC integrated amp that weighs-in at 88 pounds. Sounds great with the Revel 228Be. The next upgrade is speaker cables and PC. I have ordered a used Inakustic PC and will be auditioning Audience AU24-SE speaker cables this weekend.

The next upgrade is an R2R DAC! Looking a the Metrum Adagio along with the Metrum Amber streamer. 

Any suggestions for speaker cables under one thousand $ would be appreciated. Also, thoughts on this DAC/streamer would be appreciated.

Analysis plus oval 9 speaker cables are a great bargain.

I'd try another DAC first. Go to the local HiFi shop and 'borrow' one. Benchmark DACs are borderline mastering grade. You're going to have crispy highs with almost every SS amp you hook up to that thing.

Btw Metrum went out of business so good luck with them.

You can get a Luxman 509x for 7K used. Should be pretty smooth in the treble. Save a few grand with the 507.

I was told by a reputable source that the previous owner/designer of Metrum re-purchased the company.  Cees Ruijtenberg