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SS Budget "Tone" Integrated Amplifiers

In your experience, what are some good, inexpensive solid state integrated amps that give good tone / density? Is there such a thing? I'm done with tubes (for now) and spending $$$ chasing unicorns instead of listening to music. But I like instruments to sound like they should and not have poor recordings (which IMO are most) ruthlessly revealed. I can think of Sugden but it's all but Covid unobtainium right now. What else?
greg7

Showing 3 responses by reubent

reubent
7,072 posts
 
BTW, I currently own the well regarded, inexpensive, Audio Refinement Complete Integrated Amp, as well as the Rega Elicit-R. The Audio Refinement is a nice little amp for the price. But the Rega Elicit-R is in a different class. It has much more control, better bottom end and more refinement. It's still musical, just much more exciting than the Audio Refinement. And it should be. It's 3X more expensive.
reubent
7,072 posts
 
@greg7  - In your $1000 - $2000 price range, I really like the Rega Elicit-R. I've owned integrated amps from Musical Fidelity, Anthem, Arcam, Plinius, Bryston, Parasound, and several others, and I prefer the Rega sound. The Elicit-R has great bottom end and is non-fatiguing in my system. I consider it to be a very musical choice. I also use the built-in phono stage for my turntable and find it to be very good for the price. They seem to sell for about $1500 on the used market, maybe a little more today. That's what I paid for mine 2 years ago.
reubent
7,072 posts
 
I love my Rega Elicit-R. I've owned many integrated amps, and this one got me off the merry-go-round. I still peruse AudiogoN classifieds occasionally, but not for amplifiers......
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