Integrated Amp $1200 or less

I saw that somebody mentioned the Wyred 4 Sound Integrated sold by Underwood Wally. If you want to buy new,the 500 Mk II would be a great buy! One of my good Audio buddies purchased the original 500. I believe he got it for $700 on this site. I was shocked at how good it was. Have never been a huge fan of class D, but listening to the W4S changed my mind. My friend sold it to another friend who will never let it go. He likes it that much! I also thought the Peactree Nova 220 SE was an excellent sounding integrated. Wally closed them out at $999. They are a class D/tube hybrid. You can switch the tube in and out. They also come with a very nice built in DAC.

I have the Node 2i.  When I added a Topping D90 @ $630 the improvements were not subtle.  Better accuracy, sound stage, bass; basically all aspects of my sound were improved.  Topping also has a volume control and I plug it directly into my power amp. Denafrips is another a good brand for about same price.  I think those are R2R DAC. They were way back ordered last winter so I steered away.  Now they are available. I think a DAC would be a bigger improvement than buying an amp.  I did see a Rogue Sphinx V2 for sale.  I think about $1100.  I can be upgraded to V3 for about $500.  Lots of advise and options and that is part of the fun.  Many of the amps recommended here are Class d.  I steered away because I like Class A. 

I also have a Node 2i and a Topping D90 and am very happy with that combination. But going back to the original question, I have these going into an Outlaw Audio RR2160. This receiver is a great box that does a lot of things pretty darn good. Totally in the target price and has lots of options. Class AB, phono pre-amp, tuner, etc. There is a clean one for sale here (not mine).

https://www.stereophile.com/content/outlaw-audio-rr2160-stereo-receiver

My highest recommendation for the Exposure 2010 or 3010 integrated. You can find both at or even much less than $1200 preowned. One of the truly great bargains in audio. The 2010 was a Stereophile Class A recommendation for several years in the not too distant past.

I also like rogue Audio integrateds as well. I owned the Atlas Magnum, which is the power amp version of the Chronos magnum. It was wonderful. I have also heard the Sphinx and Pharaoh many times at Quest For Sound in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. I think they both do a wonderful job. Never heard any speakers that I did not like with the Sphinx. Now that they have come out with version three, you may be able to find a version one or version two at an outstanding price.

Marantz pm8006 is a nice all analog integrated and can be had brand new for $1199 but can be found cheaper at times especially on Amazon. Alternatively a pm 14s1 reference can be found for 1500 used these days, originally priced at 2999....

I have the Anthem i225 and really enjoy the sound from it. It is would have to be a wonderful amp at a great price to switch.

Grab a used YBA Integre DT. You will never regret it and will want to keep it even if you upgrade later.

@rayray7488
I have the Anthem i225 and really enjoy the sound from it. It is would have to be a wonderful amp at a great price to switch.

@rayray7488
Like b_limo (OP), if you have the same 2009+ version of the Anthem i225 amp (Sonic Frontiers - tube amp company) designed and built the amp for Anthem, now owned by Paradigm. One of the better designed integrated amps back then and still very competitive today in terms of pure sound. Some of the new amps under $3k are not built as well today. 

@b_limo 
With your new Fritz Carerra speakers coming, you might be surprised what your current amp will do WHEN paired with a really good DAC to go with your Bluesound Node2i.   

Old review, Anthem i225, awards:
https://www.goodsound.com/equipment/anthem_integrated_225.htm

@b_limo agree with decooney and mesch and others on the value of your anthem and prospect for improvement via DAC

I was in a similar position as you several months ago.  I tried a new integrated.  I got a smoking deal at Music Direct for a B stock Arcam SA20 and while I really really like it, I ended up swinging for the fences and upgraded my Node 2i altogether for a LUMIN D2.  I’ll put it this way, this was such a mind boggling improvement that I decided to move the Arcam and the Node 2i to another room for a second system.  The LUMIN was such a dramatic improvement and I continue to be gobsmacked by it.  There is also an upgrade path for it by upgrading its power supply with a SBooster.  I’ll be doing that in the near future.  My point is, cry once, smile once.  I say swing for the fences And upgrade the source altogether.

Whoa, I was not expecting that many more responses.  
I’m sorry, I should have given you all an update. 
I was already on the same page.  My next big purchase will be a really nice dac 👍

Once I pay for the Carreras, my spending may slow down so I may even get a better dac in the $500-$700 range for the interim before I drop $2000 on a dac.

I’ve already had the Carreras in this set-up and loved them; thats why I’m buying a pair!

Anyhow, Thank You everyone for the sound advice and helping me work through that decision!

My next thread started will probably be which dac below $700 ish...

Thanks Again!!

And/Or, check 17 prior related threads about adding an external DAC to a Bluesound streamer

https://forum.audiogon.com/search/index?fields=titles&query=DAC+bluesound&sort=date

already started the ghread then I read this...

oops! 
Been here for awhile and should use the search function more 😕

will start doinv that from now on.  

@b_limo,
yes, moving away from this $1200 amp thread to a DAC thread makes sense..Those other Node2i links above may only be helpful if you choose to add-on a DAC and bypass your internal DAC in the Bluesound Node2i.

FYI: In the Node2i, and other Gen2 products in that line, they moved from a Cirrus Logic DAC to a Burr Brown 24/192 DAC chipset. Fairly close to same level of what you’ll find in other $500-700 DACs you want to replace it with - likely more of a lateral move again.

Now if you step up to one of the better MHDT non-over-sampling (NOS) "R2R Ladder" Orchid dacs, or an upper Pagoda dac, or maybe an upper Schitt DAC, or go for it with a Denefrips R2R dac - maybe find one used or on sale, would be worth the jump. Some people are true audio nuts and upgrade DACS every year, buy their high $ hand me down. That’s why I keep my streamer separate from my DAC.

Some people will tell you moving to a super-upgraded DAC is, quote "the single best investment they ever made in their system", because it benefits all other downstream components, preamps, amps, speakers, final music result! Fasten your seatbelt for best-DAC feedback!

Various on this thread had some good ideas for ya too. Don’t forget, it all starts with the source and trickles downhill from there. Good Luck.

FWIW I have a Bel Canto c5i Digital Integrated amp I picked up here used for ~$1000 and think it’s the bees knees.  Would match well with Fritz I suspect and does it all.  
I tried it because I really did not want to have to deal with a tube amp and it has been a keeper. 

Might not be integrated, but will probably beat any under $1200, with $100 left over for the interconnect, and I’m sure Schiit would do a package deal for maybe a $1K for the three pieces, doesn’t hurt to ask.
Shiit Saga+ https://www.schiit.com/products/saga-2 (two preamps in one passive/tube)
and Vidar https://www.schiit.com/products/vidar (100w-8ohm 200w-4ohm)

Cheers George

According to Fritz the Belles Aria integrated is a good match if you can find a used one and move quick.

AVA Synergy, lists for $1,799 but available factory refurbished in your price range if you’re willing to wait for him to list one. Well worth both the money and the wait, IMHO. 

Rogue Sphinx 2 Used