Integrated Amp Choices

Awe, come on you guys! I had a Coda CSiB, bought it new, recently upgraded it along with all new caps, then took a huge hit selling it last year due to unemployment cause by the pandemic. Awesome amp. I’m just trying not to look back...

Ok, let’s add this russ99 https://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/m8series/m8xi
Link to your ad chicagoblue1977?

tomstruck, no but I’ll check it out.

fuzztone - I was the thinking the same thing.

Roger chicagoblue1977

djones +1

Elliot newcomer- thanks, going only digital.

yysantabarbar - yes Coda is very good just thought a change was in order. The Krell 300i was awesome but pushing it at $8k with DAC ($7k without). 

The other speaker we auditioned, which gets little fan fare here is the Martin Logan 60xti coming in at a lessor $3600 a pair.
https://www.martinlogan.com/en/product/motion-60xti

There was a recent thread that covered something about women having a keen musical ear, this is why I like my wife to accompany me on these demos. She picks out things that I certainly can’t. She is also a ML fan girl, and she felt the 60s had some of the bigger electrostatic attributes but with a much larger sound stage (no head in the vice). I had no trouble listening to them either. Heard the MLS with a McIntosh MA 5300

geof3, jafant - I have heard good things about both Hegel and AYRE thank you.

I have listened to some of these amps, but I cannot hear them all. I was looking to see which amp would get the most support or votes and work from the top of the list down, hopping to nail the right one, first time around (can you imagine?)

That said, SimAudio is the clear front runner so far. It’s funny, Sim Audio has been around for a long time, but I found 2 dealers recently, when I was on my speaker venture, that are now really pushing their products, like they had just newly discovered them. Good stuff and a proven track record, but I’m sure the US/Canada exchange rate comes into play as well.

I see the Martin Logan 60xti made the front cover of the Spring edition of the Audio Advisor flyer.

Also wanted to mention, the dealer that we demoed the Triangles at was a big time Naim dealer. It seems there are many, many dealers, within close proximity of each other that carry the Naim brand.

geof3 - regarding your Hegel 190/390 recommendation. Would you advise using the Hegel’s on-board DAC or otherwise?

ryder - thanks, but the AL-590AXII is $9,000!

jafant - thanks, but the AYRE AX-5 Twenty is $12,950!

Capeesh!

b_limo - Thanks, what about the DACs in the Hegels, would you recommend using them or going external? It seems a lot of these recommended amps have internal DACs which bumps up the price. Then, it seems, most people here recommend using an outboard DAC.

pesky_wabbit - Love the handle! I have heard good things about the Leben, there is even a dealer here with in a few hours of my place. Most of the small dealers don't carry stock on these more exclusive pieces, so pretty tuff to demo even if they are close by.
  

jbuhl - great info, thanks. 

This seems to be an ever evolving post with more & more recommendation coming by the minute. So, I thought I'd through another line in the mix, one that seems to get little discussion here.
How about a Benchmark stack?  Benchmark Media Systems, Inc.
Seem to have reasonable prices on both hardware and cables.

Lots of great suggestions, Eric, where are you?

I need a bit more power to drive my potential speakers (KEF RIIs) so maybe the L-507uXII. I know, it's not class A though...

jbuhl - cool set-up thanks. I have not heard a class D amp and it seems most local dealers don't carry much in the way of class D either. A lot of times they they get a bad rap, but until I here one myself I'll reserve judgment. 

big_greg, rockysantoro - As far as honorable mentions, Simaudio is clearly the front runner here so far.

Haven’t given ARC much thought, but with there one and only vsi75 (tube) integrated coming in at $9,500 I think I'll have to pass, thanks

arcam88 - definitely a good short lister, lots of good press, but hard to find one to have a listen.

pesky_wabbit - excellent, yes, thanks!

arcam88 - How do you like those passive ATC scm 40's?
I audition the same model in actives but didn't pay a lot of attention to them when I found I needed a pre-amp to run them, not to mention their almost twice the price of the passives. This (passive) is another speaker that is very difficult to hear around this neck of the woods. I see Music Direct carries them...

stephenm789 and all others that recommend or use Hegel integrated amps, the H390 in particular. Do you use the onboard DACs in this units or do you use an external DAC of some sort and if so, why (either way)?

pesky_wabbit - HA! I want both!
This one hasn't even come up yet in this discussion...Maybe Luxman can do that?

geof3 -  pesky_wabbit, OK, thank you both.

arcam88 - 👍

docmrmike - excellent advice  thanks so much for contributing! 

2channel8 - thanks, Primare is great stuff, I once had their stand alone DAC, great build quality. I will check out the I35, but pretty sure no one locally carry’s it.

anotherbob - boy, another great suggestion!
Boy, they are really starting to pile up! 

ja_kub_sz - I am honored, your first post, welcome!
I will definitely check out the Anthem (if I can find one around here?)
Years ago, I had a McIntosh MA6600, it was good, but not as musical as my Coda CSIB, but if looks could kill...
And, yes of course, pictures will go up for sure, maybe be a while though. Still awaiting permits for my remodel and with Covid, everything County related is going at a snail's pace.

anotherbob - that M33 has got some pretty rave reviews, but I'm not sure if I am completely ready for a all-in-one box solution. It was even tough for me to go to an integrated amp (ex CSiB). That's why I am quizzing everybody's use of the onboard DACs that come with some of these amps. Maybe if they are upgradeable, that's OK. 
My last music server was just a simple Roon Nucleus, hooked up via USB to my DAC and that's it. I could stream Tidal, search Roon for any music I so desired and could store my ripped CD's on an internal hard drive, al for $1,300. Worked flawlessly, but yes, it didn't have that slick display of the M33.

docmrmike - another congratulatory first post! You guys are great!
Also, he got his Krell K300i at $5k and I don't even need the DAC. Hopefully patience will be a virtue here?

tom8999 - Thanks, I'm kind of thinking this is the direction I'm heading.
 A K300i in silver with no DAC at demo price...anybody listening?

Thanks blooloo, what speakers are you using with the 33? Happy with the 33s DAC?

ljutic - sounds sweet! 
I finally bit the bullet and went with yysantabarbara's Krell K300i.
Thanks too all that contributed here and made recommendations.
It was a lot of fun learning about so many integrated amps and getting to know a bit about all your systems and what works good for you!