Integrated amp recommendation

op

try to get to 1500 budget (used)... the performance steps up a notch over $1000 units ime

So what do you suggest at $1500?

around 1500 used i would consider a hegel h95, a sony ta-1es, a primare i-30 or an ayre ax7e - all are currently listed on the ’other’ popular used equipment site 

these all offer top class purity of sound (and ample power) that is not found in most units in the lesser price class

i have owned the belles aria (twice), along with numerous hegels, ayres, some upper older musical fidelities

david belles’ aria is a nice integrated, powerful, very stoutly built, nice phono stage in it too (the remote control is downright cheap though)

sonically, i found the belles to have a little more of a brash personality - more treble energy, some sizzle, a little grain, compared to the more refined hegel and ayre sound... so it depends if you want that or your speakers benefit from a little more sizzle up top...

the ayre, hegel and top flight retro musical fidelity amps (a308, muvista etc) provide a degree of treble sophistication of even higher tier solid state amplification (ample detail and soundstaging free of attendant electronic harshness)

"ended up buying all 3 of my choices"

must be the craziest thing I read here so far. I am sure it won’t stand for long.

kudos to the person who did this -- well, this is basically what i do... albeit carefully and patiently buying used pieces -- there is no substitute for first hand experience of how some component will sound like, and work, in one’s system

this is how i tried some 35-40 dacs in 3 years...

@grislybutter

many ways to enjoy this pursuit... none right or wrong... so long as the passion, curiosity and will are there, and the wallet obliges

life is a journey, hopefully one filled with wonderful experiences ...