2. amps-preamps
  3. 1136848549

Is There any Truly "High End" Integrated Amp?


I'm a reasonably well experienced audio nut and have tried a number of "good" integrated amps. I wonder, though, if there are integrated amps that are good enough for the "best", most revealing speakers. (Think Avalon Eidolon, Verity Parsifal, various JM Lab Utopias, and a variety of other fine speakers that do not have mammoth power requirements.)

People talk about the Levinson, the Musical Fidelity KW-500 and the lesser MF amps, the BAT integrated, The Rowland Concerto, etc. etc. etc.

I would like to hear from people who have actually tried the top tier of integrated amps and would be very interested in learning of their findings.

Don't need to be the most expensive. Could be the YBA Passion, Classe, MacIntosh 6900, Krell 400i, or any of a number of integrated amps that are supposed to sound good.

Hope to hear some good feedback.

Thanks very much.
jprice

Showing 1 response by egidius

egidius
106 posts
 
i have one to add: Einstein -the absolute tune, looks unfortunately a bit pompous, but some people go for that..
I have used the Krell 300iL, which I love with demanding speakers and for its handlability. The real treat though was the Pathos Twin Towers, although it is a tad slow when speakers are not up to it.
With the Einstein you have a good average: it is 50Ws but that does not mean a thing with this; rather more important it is a so called cyclotrone-design: otl-amplifier, but built around two sankens..funny gear with a very refined sound to it. I am currently pondering about matching it with an ideal speaker ;-)
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