Gryphon and Pass should definitely be given a listen.
My last Integrated Amp: $5-10,000?
I would like to hear recommendations regarding integrated amplifiers costing between $5-10,000. This will be my last amplifier for quite a while. I prefer to buy used when I can but also prefer no older that 2-3 years. My speakers are likely to change every couple of years and I may keep more than one pair.
I like a detailed and transparent sound with air and the ability to easily to pick out the location of the instruments/singers. I have liked the class A that I’ve heard and I’ve liked the tubes that I’ve heard but I don’t want to mess with tubes. Also, I do not want a streaming device and I’d rather not have a built in DAC but I can live with it.
My music preferences are vocals and 70-90s rock.
So far I have identified the following possibilities that are available.
Mark Levinson: No 585 at $8400 and ML-5805 at $6550. The latter is a new model and I have read that there have been teething problems. I don’t know if ML have corrected this situation.
Luxman L-590AXII $7250 has a good reputation and longevity but is relatively low powered.
McIntosh MA5300, Coda CISB, and Gryphon Diablo 120 are also possibilities if available.
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Never thought i would say this as I own two great integrateds the evo 300 tube and Levinson 383 newly restored by Levinson. Don’t use the prima until the winter for obvious reasons (heat) Was at my local dealer he had a mint Marantz PM- K1 Ruby he said it would surprise me not a big class d output guy, had a peachtree once tones of power great midrange but no air/ top end. Was expecting the same thing with the Ruby boy was I wrong. No heat perfect for the bedroom with Tannoy minis and a Rel 9 x sub. The amp took me for a loop incredible sound with tons of power drove my Hales Revelation 3’s easy which dips down into 2.8 ohms. Incredible amp let’s just say it never went back for 2k in mint condition it was a steal. These are also made in Japan so the build quality was out of this world takman resistors high-quality propylene capacitors beautiful glass epoxy circuit boards I’m blown away. And the moving coil stage is phenomenal! Listening to Porcupine Tree’s new album right now it doesn’t beat my main rig but it comes close for half the price Also this uses a toroidal power supply not smps probably the best value piece of audio I’ve ever owned 🤘🤘🤘 |
I would also add Bryston B-135 cubed to your list. If you want to keep the price down the Moonriver Audio Ref integrated is only $5k new and has great reviews. Said to drive most speakers really well. I’ve heard it with a Focal Kanta 3.
If you switch speakers a lot you should probably try to find an amp that can drive almost anything. I think I heard the Bladelius Oden a few months ago and according to the specs it should handle all speakers as it outputs 2x400w into 8 ohm. It is a bit outside your price range but might be worth looking up. |
Plinius is less detailed and refined than Luxman. It sounds warmer with a thick heavy bass but with reduced clarity. My experience was with the SA-100mk3 and the Hautonga received the same remarks. |
Yeah, depends on speakers. I love Plinius amps with Dynaudio (Esp Confidence series) and it sounds vwery good with Tannoy, but thick and dark with Daedalus. For integrated though, only the amp side of Plinius gets my love, the preamp side not so much. So many choices....at least you eliminated tubes for the gang.... SS: I'd second Luxman, Simaudio, Ayre, and add also Sugden for Class A -especially if you live in MN or ND or Anchorage.... I've not heard the Modwright, but it looks pretty great and i'm loving his KWA150SE. Hybrid (why not!): Pathos and BAT..... |
yes nickb, I did receive the amp. It seems to be every bit as good as advertised but I'm not really qualified to judge....I haven't listened to many different systems in the last 30 years. My other amp is Doge 10 30 watt tube amp. The Coda is very different with a much more powerful sound but still very detailed with a wide soundstage. I am getting bored this summer, however, and I've have been thinking about putting up a post to see if any of the audiogonians have compared the Coda to other comparably priced amplifiers....still thinking however. I really like the Coda but I keep wondering how it would compare to an Accuphase, Luxman, or even Pass Labs. If I get too bored before football season starts I may bite the bullet and pick up one of the above.....We'll see.
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@chinook9 I owned and compared the CSiB from Sept 2020 (not as good as yours) with CODA #8, KRELL K-300i, KRELL Duo 175XD, Benchmark AHB2(s), Parasound A21+, D-Sonic something, NAD M22 V2, and LSA Voyager 350 GAN (modded) If you really want to get substantially better than the CSiB and stay with the slightly warm sound with grunt, you need to go to the CODA #16. That is a killer amp. I still have the AHB2 and KRELL 175XD which sound different than CODA amps. I may upgrade the 175XD to an upcoming KRELL amp.
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I agree with @twoleftears The Norma Revo IPA-140B is wonderful. Listening to my 140B right now. |
The KWM 88. EBay takes 13%. Call and offer to buy for 9k. You can demo this as well. I have one and it’s stunning. Lifetime warranty too. |
we specialize in integrated amplifiers
the coda csib was the best sounding integrated under 10k it bested the Luxman a bit more 2500 this integrated beats the Levinson it is exactly what you seek amazing resolution a warn presentation outstanding German build quality. the krell k300i is also terrific
Dave and Troy Audio intellect NJ coda, t+A, krell dealers.
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If you want more of the class A smooth sound, then go with a KRELL K-300i over the CSiB. I owned both, including CSiB V1. I ended up with CODA and KRELL separates because I liked the K-300i and CSiB a lot.
I also thought the older ML 585 was better than the newer ML 5805. I think the DAC in the newer integrated maybe better than the old 585. |