Integrated that blew you away

@mindhead1 That EX-M1+ does look nice. I wasn't able to get my hands on one to demo, but it looks impressive for sure and has a great reputation so far.

Kinki Studio EX-M1+. 
 

it is now the standard with which a judge other audio gear. 

Meanwhile the Dyslexics of the forum are composing replies to the thread titled:

Ingratitude that blew you away

I had been enjoying my Primaluna EVO 300 for a few years, compared it to many other options (including some significantly more expensive ones) and in my system the Primaluna just sounded right. 

Recently I upgraded to a Unison Research Unico 150 and I'm quite happy with it. Again, not the most expensive piece in the world, but it fits my preferences perfectly. 

Separates can be fun as well, I have had good and bad results there so it's no guarantee of an improvement over integrated designs.

I have the T+A PA 3100 HV, its tone, layering, and control are phenomenal in my system. It replaced a Hegel H590, which is hard to beat at the preowned price of less than $5K.  

 

For me, the integrated i like most is the Gryphon diablo 333

I am a Pass guy with their Power amps, and heard the Int 60, but the 333 is a class of its own 
 

@joeycastillo  Yes it’s a fantastic integrated. For those who are not willing to pay this kind of money the Diablo 300 is still a great integrated. Almost as good as the 333 for far less money if you can get a demo/used. I heard them side by side at my dealer.

Accuphase makes a range of class A and class A/B integrated amplifiers that are highly regarded.

I haven’t listened to an integrated amp in decades. But that’s only because the few audiophile type of friends I have don’t have one. I’m a McIntosh owner since the late 70’s. My first amp was a MA6100 integrated. Man I loved that thing. Had it for years until I upgraded to the MA6200 integrated. Man I loved that one even more!   I had that one for quite a few years until I upgraded to separates. My point with that story is that I feel you can’t go wrong with a Mac. New or vintage or in between. Good luck with your search and happy listening!!  

I run a Pass Labs Int-25 into Dynaudio Heritage Specials using two REL T7x subs. Blows me away everyday.
 

Front end: Technics SL1200G turntable, Dynavector 20X2A-L cartridge, Sutherland 20/20 Mk II with LPS phono preamp (set at 58 db, 475 ohm), Eversolo DMP A8 DAC/streamer, Oppo universal transport. My interconnects are from Cardas and Signal. Speaker cables are from Verastarr. Power conditioning is through an Audience AR6. Power cables from Cardas, Signal, and Audience.

good sounding integrated shares too much thermal and noise stress from PA (power amp) to Pre., through shared power delivery design and shared enclosure. thermal has huge impact on preamp lifetime/performance.. that’s why I prefer to “integrate” separates by myself. also, separates allow to change only part of system you’re looking to improve, one step at the time. 

I feel the same way, I love the looks @hoytis 

@gano thanks for the info. Shame, as I find it aesthetically pleasing.

@hoytis  Yes it was very underwhelming. 

@hoytis feedback has been meh

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/any-moonriver-404-users-out-there

overpriced and a gamble I guess

Has anyone heard the Moonriver Audio 404 Reference? Been lusting after that one for some time. But that's purely based on looks. So shallow of me.

+1 on the Audio Circle a200. Not well known here in the U.S. but sounds fantastic!

I have also owned the Exemplar Audio Exception integrated. Beautiful sounding unit as well.  

For me, the integrated i like most is the Gryphon diablo 333

I am a Pass guy with their Power amps, and heard the Int 60, but the 333 is a class of its own 

Gryphon 333.

The Krell K300i (latest XD version) was a fav of mine. Both sonically and for the rock solid feature set for a 2-channel setup. The optional DAC is not shabby but can be easily improved upon with an external DAC.

Another worth checking out is the Aesthetix Mimas.

Circle Labs A200 hybrid that has wonderful tone and purity. Very special Int amp that is just supremely musical. Also a real gem of an integrated made by the very talented John Tucker of Exemplar Audio that very few people know about. His hybrid integrated amp is a true giant killer. Unique circuits he developed that make this $5500 Int amp sound better than separates costing 4X more. John continues to innovate this piece with new learnings and ideas.  I really like John’s intentional curiosity, design talent and unrelenting passion for music and audio. 
 

Harman Kardon A300!

unbelievable! Was using a Marantz model 8 as my amp. Tried a couple different preamps and multiple different speakers and was never really wowed by it. Got an a-300 on eBay a few weeks ago. Didn’t bother to bring it up on a variac.. blows my 8b out of the water. I’m surprised these aren’t more popular.

Lots of good suggestions.  I was looking for an integrated only, no phono, streamer or dac.  It had to have sufficient power and current and was replacing my mono blocks and preamp and couldn't be too heavy.  I stumbled on the Alluxity brand from Denmark.  200/400/800 watts class A/B.  Not very popular but I don't care because it sounds wonderful even at low listening levels.  (Esoteric K-01XD se SACD player and Vienna Accoutics Liszt speakers with a combination of Zavino and Furutech cables).

VAC Renaissance 70/70. ASR Emitter II.

And Theliste! A Jadis DA88. Whoaaaa, man! I had a Jadis Defy 7. back in 1991. It is VERY hard to beat a Jadis for sounding "alive."

Switched my system from seperates to all-in-one Aavik U-588.  Doesn’t miss a beat, sounds amazing and has simplified everything so much.  Love it!!!!

My Sim Audio Moon 700i blows me away every time I listen to it. Its capacity to respond (sonic lift)  to upgrades in my front end never ceases to amaze me. It’s a super clean sound and provides a big 3D soundstage and by all reviews is extremely neutral. They’re hard to find used, but are well worth the search. 

Cost no object?

• soulution https://twitteringmachines.com/review-soulution-331-integrated-amplifier/
• constellation Argo
• Absolare
• ypsilon
• ch precision
• audionet

Curiously not seeing Leben or Esoteric mentioned so far.

+2 for Anthem STR at $5K

I've had mine for over 7 years no issues at all. 

Sounds awesome with my Totem Forest Signature speakers!

I can add a couple more - Audio Note Mieshu line (original not Tonemaster) and the Audiomat Solfège Reference. Both equally great with the right speakers. Using a Solfège today with a custom Altec Valencia system. Geez, spectacular!

@blackbag20 

Just picked up a Krell k300i and this integrated is some of the best I heard, at a reasonable price. Using it with a Pair of PS audio FR 5’s. The grip from this amp is iron fist. Even at very low volume very dynamic and smooth. 

I love my Jadis DA88S with KT120s but 2 other integrated i would like to own are the Engström Arne and the one i discovered this weekend at the Munich show the Line Magnetic LM-212 Premium.

@Lalitk,

Agree completely! Bought the E-5000 and is amazing. Like many on Agon been in this for fifty years and owned every iteration from all tube to all SS as well as a combination.Old man now so wanted less units to play around with. This integrated just plays music 😊

Many great people on this site.

Best, Bob

I’ve had many integrateds: McIntosh, multiple Hegels, Classe, rogue Cronus magnum with the kt120 tubes, and the Auralic Polaris.

If I had more efficient speakers, I’d probably still have the Rogue, at least in my 2nd or 3rd system. The Hegels are very good but I thought their dacs were pretty bad, I have always used an external dac that costs $8000. I use the Auralic Polaris now in 1 of my systems which has a built in dac/streamer, and Roon ready. 
 

I buy speakers quite often and when I bought the larger Ushers, the Hegel h360 didn’t have the power that was needed, so I decided to go seperates from now on. I have a nice beefy amp that can handle everything I throw at it.

if I was to look at an integrated today, I’d look at the big McIntosh

I’ma gonna go against the $ = performance crowd here & mention the $1500.00 Creek 4040a..
 A miniscule,50/110 watt(8/4/ ohms),sub 5 pound,Class D,Integrated Amplifier/DAC/Headphone(Phono is optional) that completely embarrassed my $3000.00 SimAudio 240i not only in bass depth/control,but imaging & sound staging as well & stands tall and proud with any speaker from the MIGHTY MOUSE sized ProAc Tablette Anniversaries($2800.00 retail at time of production) to the $7000.00 Harbeth M30.2Xd’s!!!
 TRULY a benchmark at the asking price..If your on a tight budget,do yourself a favor & demo one with the most expensive speakers that the remainder your budget allows...
“The 40th anniversary 4040 A integrated amplifier will suit the most demanding applications. Whether used in a domestic audio or desktop system, the feature-rich 4040 A is simple to use, yet luxurious in operation. Created to provide a totally immersive high-end experience”
https://www.creekaudio.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/4040-a/#:~:text=The%2040th%20anniversary,and%20BT%20antenna.

Hello maxwave, there is a thorough review [Feb '25] by Michael Lavorna of the Soulution 331 at: https://twitteringmachines.com/review-soulution-331-integrated-amplifier/.   He had reviewed the 330 in November 2023 so perhaps his observations could provide some insights into how the 331 has evolved vs. the 330.

Best regards,

The absolute best sounding one was the  Line Magnetic.  We make our own tube products (not integrated units though) and they make a hell of one for the price.  Very impressive in our opinion.  Build quality is excellent.

@at0310t 

I do not know about the Integrated 331.  But I had the Integrated 330 .

The high frequencies were a bit too much on the bright side . I sold it and replace it with Vinnie Rossi Brama integrated .  Very pleased with the result.

Speakers : Audiovector R6 arreté

@akg_ca  Did not think of that method of connecting a subwoofer.  Good one!

+1 Moon 700i

Consider the Soulution 331 Integrated.  We are using this in our Family Room set-up.  It recently replaced the Ayre AX-5 Twenty which we had or 12 years.  Everything is sounds much more 3-dimensional.  Stage is taller, wider, deeper & more forward than the Ayre system.  Upper midrange and tweeters seem to have come alive.  The 331 also displays a very strong grip in the bass.

We've listen to mostly Jazz streaming Qobuz via our Aurender A30.  My wife has commented on hearing details she did not hear before.  Music is more 3-dimensional with voices and instruments further out into our room accompanied by a wide soundstage.  Despite 120 wpc vs. my previous Ayre AX-5 Twenty [125 w/c], bass instruments / drums are much tighter, deeper in reach with much more detail and GRIP.  I'm guessing the power reserves supplemented by 160,000 µF of storage capacitance is what's in play here.  I'm blown away.

Speakers are Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolutions, Streamer / Server is Aurender A30.  REL S/2 sub.  Nordost Power Cables [Valhalla 2, Tyr 2 & Frey 2] & Audioquest Dragon XLR interconnects.

+1 Luxman 590AXII

A $700 (used to me) tube amplifier by Willsenton that takes 4 KT88 or 4 EL34 tubes. That’s what I call bang for buck!

Audio Research GSi 75

It is a wonderful integrated that I only gave up as my Wilson Sophia 1s needed more power in my large space.  
 

with the beautiful KT150 sound and the excellent on board DAC and phono, you are all set

Moon 700i. The closest ice heard, at the price (including separates) to a straight wire with fain plus input switching.

Originally with my original Sonus Faber Concertos and now with my Living Voice IBX4.

Luxman L-509Z….  If you have the means, I highly recommend you pick one up. 

I own an ASR Emitter II Exclusive. You'd have to hear it to believe it!

@goyescas 

What are your speakers?  Speaker + Integrated synergy is very important so it would be helpful to know what speakers gel with this GATO Integrated. 

@gochurchgo 

What about the T +A PA 2000 R integrated amplifier?  Their web site says "Building neat, compact integrated amplifiers offering high output power and superb sound quality is an art at which T+A has no peer. As proof of this claim we present the PA 2000 R integrated amplifier. It is incredibly dynamic, powerful and incisive. There are two reasons behind these characteristics: the extremely linear output stages with very low negative feedback, which are a completely new development, and the new form of mains power supply employed. We designed the latter specifically for audio devices, to ensure that they are ultra-stable under load, with no danger of collapse even when handling extremely high peak levels. The result is that the PA 2000 R can deliver a continuous power of more than 200 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms loudspeakers, enabling it to drive impedance-critical speakers whilst maintaining effortless control. Gas-tight gold-contact relays are employed to switch loudspeakers, inputs and internal signal circuits with total precision and zero losses. Separate tone controls are present for each channel, and they and the Loudness function can be by-passed completely. An optional audiophile phono pre-amplifier module for MM or MC can simply be plugged in. For operation in a surround system the amplifier can be set to Surround Pass Through mode, selected by a trigger signal"

Click here for Mfg link to amp

One review said "the T+A PA 2000 R is regarded as a very musical and open-sounding amplifier, with a reputation for clarity, refinement, and dynamic performance".   I am considering this amp for myself.