I highly recommend the McIntosh MA8950 integrated amp. It is beautiful to look at with the iconic blue meters, it’s has fantastic sound, 5 band equalizer so you can adjust for your room or bad recordings, it has the DA2 dac module in the back- if they come out with better dac technology some day you can replace just the module and keep it up to date. 200 solid Watts of power with 3.1DB headroom should be more than enough for most speakers and rooms. I went from separates (C52 and MC452) to this all in one excellent integrated. I have a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica Nova 2 speakers connected and the sound is fantastic. I too have tinitus at 57 yrs old. This integrated is $9000, but some dealers will take some money off the top or you could go with used. (try Audio Classics) it weighs 75lbs.
Retirement integrated amp for a “fiscal conservative”…..Part 1: I have a plan
Again, I want to thank the many many members who provided their thoughts and insights to my original post on this subject!! The problem is (and its a good problem) you all provided a LOT of advice and recommendations; many diverse, some corroborating, and some conflicting options. I did a lot of reading on several of the integrateds y’all suggested and PM’d a few of you to better understand your thoughts. There are a lot of really smart people who support this Agon forum!! I have a lot more knowledge now, thank you
Which leads to the Plan:
1. Before spending up to $8,000 (my not yet wife approved budget) I need to confirm I can actually hear the sound qualities I’m missing in my current system. Having a 68 year old hearing system with tinnitus, this is a real question for me.
2. I’ve booked a room at the Schaumburg Hyatt for the upcoming AXPONA; a 9hr drive from Huntsville AL.
3. I’ve never attended an audio show, but its been on my bucket list for the past 5 years, so I’ll kill 2 birds with one stone (roadtrip)!
4. I realize that audio shows aren't the optimum listening environment, but if I can hear the sound qualities I’m missing there at the show; then game on identifying an integrated amp that will bring me closer in my system which will be Part 2 of the Plan 😀
5. I’ll start Part 2 there at the show listening to as many systems with integrateds in my price range (I’m fine with buying used and will factor that in to which amps I listen to). Yes, the associated equipment in the chain and the environment will be different than mine, but it will be a great place to start!!
And that’s part of the fun of this hobby/obsession (at least for me); planning and starting the next journey!