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

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Yes, as Cenline has stated above, the Karan KA-i180. I was reading through this post to see if anyone would mention this masterpiece of audio gear. Don't believe me? Do you trust TNT audio? TNT audio review
I was using Melos Maestro tubed preamp ($2500.00 new) and a Melos MAT180 tubed amp ($5000.00 new) and replaced them with the KA-i180. The KA-i180 is solid state. I am using it with Merlin VSM-M speakers. Merlins are very revealing and the Karan sound is just like my Esound CD-E5 cd player (another great performer) That's right the Karan has no sound of its own. Just the way audio should be. If the cd is warm then so is the sound. You can't do better!
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