Integrated Amps


I'm debating whether to upgrade my Marantz integrated with a better performing and higher powered integrated or simply add a separate amp and use the Marantz as a pre-amp. I've looked at stepping up to the Marantz model 30 or 40n, PS Audio Stellar Strata, Music Fidelity M5si/M6si. But then the Heaven 11 Billie caught my eye.

Has anyone had any experience with the Heaven 11 Billie integrated amp? It's a hybrid class D amp w/ a tubed pre-amp. The reviews I've watched seem to give the unit high marks for sound quality, presentation, sound stage, and because of the tubed pre-amp, an analog warmth to the otherwise "cold" sound of a class D amp. 

https://heaven11audio.com/billie2-amp-features-specs/?v=7516fd43adaa

 

bipod72

Showing 1 response by chenry

The Heaven 11 offers a compelling value and feature proposition: integrated with good power, tube preamp, DAC, headphone amp, phono preamp. Peachtree used to offer a similar integrated, but in a less visually-appealing package. Vincent Audio also has hybrid integrateds with tube preamp section in a couple of their amps, but they are at higher prices. I don’t know how recent ICEPower class D modules compare to other modules. I had Peachtree's Nova 300 integrated which was a powerful class D amp with ICEPower modules, but that was a much older design. I have been using a combination of a ProJect PreBox RS2 Digital (selectable tube section) preamp/DAC/headphone amp that has bluetooth and a phono preamp with a separate NAD C298 class D amp with Purifi modules which is a very good combination, more power (185W/8R) but more expensive and without the visual appeal of the Heaven 11 Billie Mk II.