Need Integrated Amp with Moving Coil Input

+1 br3098

I had a Luxman 505U and a channel went out. I had a Luxman Power amp in the 80’s and a channel went out. I like the Luxman but am hesitant to go down that road again. I had an LFD Integrated but to me it did not sound good with my Harbeth. I guess I like the tube sound. I also have tried a McIntosh 7900 but the phono was not as good as my LFD phono and the DAC was not as good as my PS Audio. Maybe an all in one integrated that I would like does not exist. I am looking at the Octave V110se that has the optional MC phono that is supposed to sound good and has some of the tube qualities I might like. Even looking at a Naim all in one integrated with CD player (the 7500.00 retail one). The power supply add one kind of confuse me however. A friend recommended a Yamaha but they have never been on my radar. Maybe I need to lower my expectations to get something that will combine everything in one unit.

Or just use the MM input in your existing amp and add an SUT?  Might save you some money and hassle and will probably sound better too.

LFD makes an integrated with a MC input.  It would match well with your harbeth's.

BTW,  Primaluna used to offer phono boards for their integrates, which would solve your problem. BUT, the quality of the sound was reportedly mediocre for those boards as they were merely a convenience thing. 

I had two different Creek Integrated that had phono board slots, which would accept MM or MC.  Again, while those amps were great, the boards were above average sounding but not stellar.  

I think I saw a review once that found the big Yamaha integrateds (those that look like Luxman's and priced like them too) had great MC phono stages, but I could be wrong.

What is your budget? Do you want to stay with a tube based unit or are you willing to go SS?

Luxman’s integrated all come with MC inputs but none has an internal DAC from what I can tell. Luxman in class A would potentially be a good match if you migrate from tube to solid state, as you may keep warmth and liquidity from your PL preamp.