Integrateds: $3K, $4.5K or $5K

for 3500, I have found the Ayre AX7e to be the best integrated I've heard as it's a great mix for tube guys (me) and SS guys. Tight, articulate bass and a huge sound stage and imaging. Also, the mids are sweet and believable. Don't go by the power rating either as they drive the Vandy Treo's (84db) in a midsize room.

Guys, I understand why you all love YOUR amps. We all do. Makes sense. I can't have tubes anymore. I have Quicksilver separates that would be AWESOME, but I'm sick of tubes and as much as I love them I wanted an amp that would give me that sweet sounds, but also tight low end etc.. I listened to Rogue even though it's tubed as my dealer also carries that along with AR, which I've always LOVED. I have listened to Krell since day one and even have a Stealth that I'm selling. It doesn't do it for me anymore. Honestly, it never did it for me. I always liked ML stuff better along with Rowland. the Bryston gear has always sounded nice for SS stuff, but I've heard Ayre in three dealerships recently with Focal, Paradigm, ML, Vandy, Proac and it's always sounded great. I've heard the Creek too and liked it, but to my ears it's not in the same league as the Ayres, especially with Vandy Treo's, which will be my speakers. I also am starting to get new AQ wires throughout that will replace top of the line MIT cables. I wanted to buy a real system finally and not just get pieces that were great on their own, but may not have had synergy if that makes sense. I am only getting a Music Hall DAC 25.3 with AQ Niagara balanced connections, but it sounds great compared to some more costly DACs I've been hearing. Eventually I hope to get a matching Ayre DAC as that's the best sounding one I've heard so far.

hegel's are awesome integrated's. They have the new ones that just replaced last years models so there are many being offered on the net. I personally went with Ayre last month and LOVE it. I feel it's more of everything. It's the most tube like, but with all the goodness of SS. The extremes are natural and extended. Having Proacs, I can hear the limits of an amps sound staging and I can tell if they image properly. The Ayre's do this better than any integrateds I've heard. Some will sound deeper, but it's not as accurate and teh Ayre does go that low.

That said, everyone else likes what they have best or they wouldn't have it. This is the most important thing about hi fi. We all hear differently. All amps will behave differently with different cables and speakers as well as front ends.

Based on your speakers, my ears liked the Ayre AX7, Hegel 200 and MF amps best. All were using AQ cables throughout the systems. All were Rock series I believe.

I would also say that Ayre and Hegel are two of the BEST integrateds right now as both go with every speaker I've auditioned over the last 7 months as I redo my whole system. Good to hear others liking their gear.

I have the Ayre 7xe....it's plenty powerful for all the speakers I've heard it with. That includes Focal, Vandy, B&W, Legacy, Dynaudio, Paradigm and many others. You should check it out if you can. I personally feel the Ayre is the most natural/tube like. Very strong throughout the whole band. The MF isn't my cup of tea, but you may like it. Powerhouse for sure, but lacking some of the finess that I hear in the Ayre and the Hegel. I have now heard the Hegel in two systems and it sounded very different. Don't know why, but it did. That's why I am now driving hours each way to NJ from CT as I trust John at Audio Connections in Verona, NJ. I know he sells around the country. You may want to give him a shout as he also sells Rogue and AR in addition to Rega, Music Hall, NAD and Ayre. He knows what goes and what doesn't. He also sells a ton of used gear and much of it is newer and in great shape. If you have another vendor who has been around a long time, use them, but I'd deal with a store owner as they won't play games with you most of the time. If you find one who does, please let us all know, lol.