Integrated Amp Choices

Triangles for sure, I currently own the Esprit Antal EZ. These are very easy to drive and scream out for a nice tube amp. I have a Prima Luna Premium Dialog that works well. Or if solid state is a must, a nice Musical Fidelity integrated. 

340ix by Simaudio. Please go listen to one. They are simply awesome the folks at Simaudio build wonderful gear and is hard to beat. 
I am selling my 340ix as I just ordered the 600 v2. Will be here in 2 weeks. 

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

Have to check out Aesthetix MIMAS you can add onboard Dac , phono and high pass filter

By specs the Triangles are the choice. The Sugden will make them sing but the are extremely rare used.
It’s head and shoulders above the crowd.
Either that or tudes with a Raven.

tomstruck, no but I’ll check it out.

fuzztone - I was the thinking the same thing.

"...Ok, let’s add this russ99 https://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/m8series/m8xi..."

Great choice, and something that will last a lifetime. Great sound with any loudspeaker. 

The triangles are very clean and need a warmer amp
No Sim or anthem or musical fidelity
Aesthithiix is a hybrid so that is
 good 

We sell alot of top of the line integrated amplifiers we have a unison research   unico 150  amazing hybrid  new 7150drmo 4500
Also the coda csib is one of the Best integrated amps under 10k


Dave and troy Audio intellect  nj
Coda and unison  Dealers

@high-amp. I will be listing until the 600 is in. 

The Anthem has DSP room correction which would be handy. The Kef R11 would probably be the easier speaker to drive but that's comparing it to the Triangle Esprit Antal which is the one below the Australe. 

@audiotroy if you're going to recommend a hybrid then you have to include MA252, Pathos Classic One, Classic Remix and Inpol (have one and it is awesome).
Enjoyed your shameless plug.

@high-amp go out and audition as many rigs as you can do not buy on recommendations from this bunch.

Aren't you part of the "bunch" chicagoblue? 

The Triangles and

a Tube Integrated that can handle the minimum 3.3 ohms.

Include MM Phono at least, deal with MC later, many built-in MC Phono stages are not adjustable parameters, may not be best for an eventually chosen MC cartridge.

I’m loving my new Luxman Tube SQ-N150, only 10 wpc, enough for my small office, not enough power for you. That Luxman SS you picked is a beauty.

The McIntosh, amazing and more than likely it will hold it's value.

The CODA CSiB is great. So good that I decided to sell it and get the CODA separates (07x and deciding on #8 or #16). The KRELL K-300i integrated is also great. I thought the KRELL was a little smoother and had more bass than the CODA. Both are a touch warm and were amazing on my RAAL SR1a. Which need warmth.

@djones51 not following the "bunch"

Wild Bunch maybe

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). 

@high-amp go separates when it comes to DAC and Phono Stage.

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

Roger chicagoblue1977

Second on the SimAudio... also, in that price realm look at a Hegel H190 or H390 about as good as they come in that price realm.

high-amp

Consider an AYRE AX-5 Twenty. Search over.

Happy Listening!

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.

+2 Coda CSiB.

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...

@high-amp I sent you a DM that you may find useful.

If considering Luxman, go with the top-of-the-range Class A L-590AXII. Unfortunately I haven't listened to all the other options. Another alternative is one of the models from Pass Labs.

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

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

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

There are a couple of used Krell K-300i’s for sale at USAM right now. One of those is priced at $5475 if you want to save money versus a new amp. I am not the seller, nor do I know the seller. 

I think the seller for the Krell is @yyzsantabarbara @yyzsantabarbara. You won’t find a more honest and trustworthy person to do business with. I just paid Uncle Sam a hefty tax bill, otherwise I would have jumped on it in a heartbeat. It’s a steal at his asking price. 

Capeesh!

I’d be looking at Hegel, Belles, Ayre, Raven and Rowland...

Into high efficiency speakers the Leben CS600 would be very, very hard to beat.

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.
  

Rogue Audio Pharaoh might be worth a look. Class D (Hypex) and Tube hybrid from a company with a good reputation and reasonable pricing. But lacks onboard DAC I do believe. But could add external with money saved then pick up the flex to upgrade it down the line. Chord Qutest and Musical Fidelity M6sR with warranty over on TMR for $1.5k

http://rogueaudio.com/Products_Pharaoh.htm

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.

Listenup has a store demo of a Hegel 190

https://listenup.com/hegel-h190-integrated-amplifier-black-clearance-open-box.html
Do a $1.5K DAC and you are right on Budget.  But the 190 proly has on board DAC.

@high-amp I forgot to add this in my statements about the BM stack.

If the pure BM stack is too revealing (what I use) and some warmth is wanted. Try the CODA 07x preamp. The 07x preamp and the AHB2 are incredible together (I also have this pairing). I prefer the HPA4 + AHB2 combo but I think most would like the 07x + AHB2 more. 

I sold an extra  AHB2 I had to someone last month. I think I lost $50 on that sale. The buyer hated it put it up for sale in 3 days.  The BM is not for everyone, especially if you want some color.

Here is Benchmarks description of their gear vs others.
How Should I Buy an Audio System? - Benchmark Media Systems

I'd choose either the Luxman or the McIntosh. 

Lots of great suggestions, Eric, where are you?

I have the Luxman 505UXII. It is amazing! I am driving Fyne Audio F502SPs with ease and control. The Phono section alone is worth it and probably cannot be beat for less than $1200. It has HT Bypass, Tone controls and Loudness if desired (I don't touch them) and lots of other features.
Highly recommend the Luxman.

Look at the luxman 550ax2 instead of 505... A vs AB bit more warmth and I find voices nicer if you listen to more acoustic stuff 

Not trying to drive you away from integrated but this would make a tidy setup if you are open to class D. Budgets little over $5k. They take trade in for current models and have a in home demo program. Excellent support as well. I ran one of their S300 amps for about 3 years and it never missed a beat. Fronted it with a tube pre and liked the comdo very much. PS Audio gave me good $$ for an older Rotel amp and it made the purchase a no brainer.

Pre with DAC:https://www.psaudio.com/products/gaincell-dac/

Amps:https://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-m700-power-amplifier/
I May try the S1200 if I ever get the $$$

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. 

I'm with chicagoblue, you can't go wrong with Simaudio.I have never been disapointed with any Simaudio product.

I stopped looking after I got my Simaudio 600i.  No DAC though.  I have an older Audi Research integrated (the Vsi55) that I'm listening to with my KEF Ref 1's right now and it's also a great sounding piece.  "Only" 55 watts per channel, but it plays louder than I can take in my home office.  No DAC either.  With your budget you could go higher up the ARC line.  Not sure if anyone has mentioned Line Magnetic.  Fantastic sounding gear.

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