Retirement integrated amp for a “fiscal conservative”…..Part 1: I have a plan

Thanks guys!

@audphile1, @lalitk ​​@zlone I agree, AXPONA won’t be the best critical listening venue, but it will be a fun check on my bucket list and will provide an opportunity to listen contrast and compare equipment and talk with vendors. 
Although I live in an extremely high tech and relatively affluent city (Huntsville AL), we only have 1 hifi dealership (who only carries Primaluna, McIntosh, and Naim amps).  Nashville is 2 hours away and Atlanta is 3.5 hrs away. I’ve travelled to hifi shops in both cities. I’ve not been impressed with what I’ve heard there. 
@rick_n the Gryphon 120 integrated would be closer to my $comfort range. 

@soix the Unison Research I150 looks very interesting, especially being a hybrid. Thank you, I’ll definitely add it to my list. 

@lalitk ​​​​@singere thank you for the hifi shop recommendations. Looking at the Product lines listed on their websites, it appears they carry extremely high end $$$$ manufacturers.

@roadcykler you may well be right; I’m praying you’re not (my wife is probably praying you are). Either way I win as going to a high end audio show is on my life bucket list (I suspect the Agon community can appreciate that). 

@audphile1 , yes, I still have the original Perspectives (non-graphene) and I believe I’m not getting the most out of them. Pass Labs is definitely on my amplification short list. There was a used Pass Labs INT-250 for sale last month for just under $7,600 that I would likely have bought if I knew my ears are capable of hearing the sonic qualities I’m looking for. I’m ready to place that bet yet. 

@mdalton thanks for the Atelier 13 Nashville hifi shop suggestion. I see the have an Audio Hungary Qualiton X200 on sale for $4,390, well within my price range. Anyone have any experience with AH amps?

@audphile1 thanks for the heads up on the PL INT250 listing.  I’m going to listen before I buy even if its with other equipment in different environments to at least get a sense (pun intended) of 1. My hearing capabilities and 2. As you, @kennyc, @daniel25 and others have said; try to distill what I hear from those experiences down to 1 or 2 amps to try out in my system at home  

@jsalerno277 I plan to keep my phono stage and DAC/streamer so I’m hunting for a traditional integrated amp.

@curiousjim I have the 83.6 dB sensitive non-graphene Joseph Audio Perspective speakers.  I mainly listen to jazz trios and quartets, but my music tastes and listening cover most genres except symphonic or large orchestra/bands which can overwhelm my speakers.

@daniel25 I don’t see your post that @ghdprentice referred to.  Did the site moderators delete it for some reason?

@mdalton what is the AH you are referring to?

Sorry gentlemen, maybe I not fully functional yet, having just poured my 1st cup of the coffee this morning😳

@coltrane1 I hear you.  But, that’s part of the fun, reading, talking to experts who may have similar experiences willing to share thoughts and advice, seeking and listening to equipment.  That’s part of what makes this a community, right?!

BTW, I worked with rocket scientists the first 18 years of my career and being detailed, compulsiveand overthinking everything is normal and essential in that line of work 😀

@jlopes89 thank you for very thought provoking post!  If Agon’s metrics are accurate, I’m honored that you chose this topic for your 1st post during 7+ years of membership!

To answer your questions, yes my $8K budget is for a plain (no DAC phono pre which I have both). Also, yes I would consider separates, but I suspect I’ll get more musicality (at least what I’m looking for) for the buck with an integrated. But I have an open mind. 
 

I’m happy to share my thoughts after attending AXPONA if folks are interested in them. As I said in my original post in December and again in this one, I’m seeing out and really do appreciate the decades of expertise and variety of thoughts and recommendations from this community.