Integrated amp recommendations for Harbeth 30.1

Run a Luxman 509X with ATC 20 passives (85db) sealed cabinet.  This is a rather challenging monitor to drive properly.  The Luxman runs them with aplomb.  Full control and dynamics.  Used price is around 7K.  Best of luck on your journey. Cheers

Congratulations for your choice! I also had Harbeth’s with Luxman L507 uxII and the match was great! Enjoy! 

You made an excellent choice. Congrats!!!

I thought I would follow up on my original post. After reading about as much as I could, and not having local dealers to audition most if any of my options I purchased a new Luxman L505uxII. Just got it today and will break it in for a week before listening critically but I am pleased with where I ended up.

Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated.

+1 on the Unison recommendation. 

From what you are saying, I recommend something with tone controls. Cuts down your choices, but offers a lot more options when listening. It’s not a sin, believe me. 

So one reason why I am not specifically looking at a full tube integrated amp is that I have a McIntosh C-11 and MC-60s that I use in the winter. They were restored by Terry DeWick right before he retired. The integrated amp would most likely be SS or hybrid to run in the warmer months. But I definitely lean toward a tube-like sound.

Also I am not opposed to separates but figure I would get more bang for the buck with a good integrated. Thanks for all the good input thus far.

I’ve owned every Harbeth minus the M40. You might want to look at tube amplification. This Rogue Cronus Magnum is within your budget and includes the features that you are lookin’ for!!

http://rogueaudio.com/Products_Cronus_Magnum.htm

At your room space considering bigger watts, even you listen at low vol. for pass better with int-150 , why limited to integrated? With your budget you can have separate amp & pre for the older model .

Forgot to mention, I also tried a Naim Supernait 3 with the Harbeths. 
it didn’t sound bad but was ultimately too lively (the whole PRaT thing Naim is famous for) and thin sounding for my taste. Returned it within the trial period. But there are a lot of folks who love the Naim sound so you never know. 
I still think Luxman and Hegel are a better match. Even Allen Shaw pairs the speakers with Hegel gear during demos. 

unison research hybrid integrated amplifiers 

a huge step up from exposure sounds even better then the naim

sounds great with harbeths the harbeth importer used to import unison as well

dave and Troy

audio intellect NJ

previous exposure dealer

current naim and unison dealer

Know that model. Nice! Especially with Dinan mods!!!

Nice @tomcarr .  I drive a great 2004 330i ZHP manual with Dinan signature mods.

it is kind of a one-of-a-kind car. Every time I have it serviced they guys offer to buy it.

thanks for the input

Sidenote @stuartbmw3 , had lots of 3 series Bimmers, from M3 to X3, currently a '23 X5. Love BMW!

With 85 dB speakers I would guess you would need something rated at or above 150/300 w/ch/8 ohm/4 ohm

Oh also, the iMac as a source is hardly ever used. Right now I use vinyl and cd as my source 95% of the time. I don’t really stream apart from playing the odd sound that I only have on the Mac.

No one like the Harbeth/Naim match? This where I thought I wanted to go.

Your biggest problem, by far, is using your iMac as your digital source.  Get yourself even something as simple as a $399 iFi Zen Stream and you’ll be much better off.  Using your iMac as a source — no, just no.  As for the integrated, Luxman, Coda, and Sugden would all be great choices.  Best of luck. 

Almost forgot the room suggestion.

Try a placement, humor me, in which 

your gear is in a corner facing the diagonal

corner across the room. Then place the speakers

flanking the gear 2-3' out from the walls split apart 

by 8'. Place your listening chair 9' away in the triangle.

Let me know how it sounds!

My experience is with Pass and Luxman products. Those HB speakers

like power and current. I now use and Pass INT25 with 87dB Fritz 7's

Coda supposed to be very good too.

Used you can get Luxman or a Hegel at $4k. 

With Pass you get a XA25 amp. 

I like your gear. You will pick well!

The Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amplifier offers excellent performance, facilities, and power. As per the Musical Fidelity web site “Internally, the M6si is configured as 2 independent monobloc power amps with a separate preamp. It is, in fact, a preamp with 2 monobloc power amps that just happen to share the same casework. The M6si has 220wpc. It has very low distortion, outstanding noise ratio and extremely flat frequency response”.

I am very happy with my Musical Fidelity M-6Si integrated amp since this amplifier deliveries the sound quality I am looking for. The M6Si amp drives my PMC Twenty5.6 speakers perfectly.

It is amazing to me that this $3,000 integrated amplifier sounds this good. Its build quality is excellent and it offers both RCA and XLR balanced inputs. This amplifier brought back the "magic" and I am very happy. I suggest you audition the Musical Fidelity M6Si amp.

TAS Review of the Musical Fidelity M6Si amp

For example, The Absolute Sound review says "With its exceptional power, the M6si delivers high quality sound that’s effortless and unstressed. Its stability margins are huge so it will DRIVE any loudspeaker easily. These are the bedrock upon which the M6si delivers fantastic sounding music. Because of its pre amp/power amp configuration, it produces wide stable images with an effortless, clear, ungrainy sound quality. Bottom end is delivered with a vast punch and speed of attack".

The music room has a Bryston B135sst for under $4k.  The Stereophile review of this unit extolled the virtues of the combo with your speakers.  I have the same separates in my room currently with 30.2s as well as a Luxman 590.  If I had to choose I would take the Bryston with the Harbeths.  They’re both excellent however.  

I owned the Moonriver 404 and actually paired it with Harbeth m30.1. 
One of the worst pairings ever. The sound was bloated and lacked dynamics. Couldn’t get rid of the Moonriver fast enough. The fact that it’s a big ugly box doesn’t help either. 
 

My recommendation is to go with Luxman (would be my top choice) or Hegel. 

MoonRiver is an option, although would probably have to buy new. Generally thinking I can gain more value going used

I have a Luxman L550 AXII with my 30.1s. Sounds fantastic. I know the Luxman is $6500 but you might be able to find one in your price range. I also have another system with a Hegel 190 running Magnepan .7. Very impressed with the Hegel. 

Moonriver 404 is one choice.