Int amp help

Try the NAD C370 $699 ...$549 at Qaudio.com

I bought mine to hold me over for a little while in an expensive system and was stunned at it's perfomance. It is currently hooked up to $5500 Audio Physic Virgo III's and is driving them very nicely, great power with detail. Check out the recent review in stereophile Jan??

It is rated at 120W Stereophile tested it and it ran at 178W at 8ohms.

Bang for the buck with power to spare, look no further.

Ahh, maybe so but with much less power, and this isn't your Daddy's NAD. I infact really used to dislike the dull lifeless sound of the NAD line. This unit is completely different, effortlessly powerful with a very refined and detailed high end. It throws a deep soundstage. Don't comment on this unit unless you have physically heard it, assumptions don't apply here.
The LFD Mistral is $1049 and has 50W, not exactly power to spare, the SE version has 75W but is $1495. These are very nice sounding amps, but not exceptional bargains by any means.

I have owned the Audio Refinement and can say that the NAD is clearly better and has the power that the original post here is lokking for.
As I said before, I have never been a fan of NAD before this. I have also chatted with techs over the yearsregarding build quality etc.. and I know that for a while NAD had some real QC problems. I can tell you things have changed. This amp is very well put together.

This amp was the European EISA amplifier of the year.

I would look to the recent Stereophile Review, the Measurements section for some qualitative comments on the engineering and build qualiy specific to this unit.
You'll find them to be exceptional, and when you consider the price of the amp downright surprising.

I have owned the Audio Refinement and can say that the NAD is clearly better and has the power that the original post here is looking for.
As I said before, I have never been a fan of NAD before this. I have also chatted with techs over the yearsregarding build quality etc.. and I know that for a while NAD had some real QC problems. I can tell you things have changed. This amp is very well put together.

This amp was the European EISA amplifier of the year.

I would look to the recent Stereophile Review, the Measurements section for some qualitative comments on the engineering and build qualiy specific to this unit.
You'll find them to be exceptional, and when you consider the price of the amp downright surprising.

Sorry about the double post.
My comments are specific to the 370.

Oh I am not personally attacking anyones suggestions, or making assumptions, my only reference to the LFD was it's realtively low power, it is a fine product. It does look like the comment on hearing the components was a little tangled up, I didn't meaan to direct it towards Ohlala.

My comments about the NAD are only to make the point that this amp doesn't fit in the classic NAD pidgeon hole, dark opaque and underpowered. My comments were directed towards the thread in general as many people have commented on the quality and sound of NAD, good comments with which I agree. I am only stating that this amp is a different can of worms.
There are many very good solid state integrateds for $1000 to $1500. The surprise to me is that the NAD has so much power and is a very neutral and transparent amp. It is not warm like the Audio Refinement and to a lesser extent the LFD. All though they are tonally different,that gets into personal prefence, but in the important areas of resolution and control the 370 is unimpeachable at double it's price. Now the decision is how much to spend, how much power do you want, and tonally what is your cup of tea. All the amps mentioned are very good and none would be a mistake.
Cheers