The most beautiful Integrated Tube amp?

The Jadis Orchestra Reference is one of the most beautiful amplifiers you can buy. 24 karat gold over brass fascia and knobs, stainless steel, real wood, transformer covers in black and 24K gold, exposed tubes and capacitors. Definitely helped in getting my ex-fiance to approve the purchase. It looks right at home in the most elegant decor. On my side it was the best sounding tube amp I could find. Pretty much bar none. Many things going for it soundwise. Terrific bass, lots of clean, dynamic power, incredible refinement and detail, neutral. Bass and treble controls. Ability to tailor sound to a wide range, vis a vis the acceptance of KT90(come with the amp)/KT88/6550/EL34/6CA7/E34L output tubes. I would also have been happy with an Air Tight, but they are much more utilitarian looking(so not of your interest). Cary and Pathos are nice looking amps to my eye. There are also a lot of nice looking exotic amps, but they are harder to find.

One thing about the Jadis Orchestra Reference. Please don't confuse it with the Orchestra. The Orchestra is considered to be very beautiful by many, but when compared to the Reference, it looks more than cheesy. The Orchestra substitutes the real 24K gold over brass for gold colored plastic fascia and knobs, and lacks the transformer covers(on its smaller transformers). No bass or treble controls either. Also, the Orchestra comes with 6CA7 tubes(will also take EL34/E34L). I don't think it will run 6550/KT88/KT90. I was told the transformers are the reason. Not 100% sure on this though.

Tweekerman, the photo above by Bwhite IS the Jadis Orchestra.

You are thinking of the Orchestra Reference. The Reference features the KT90 tubes(in place of 6CA7/EL34), transformer covers, 24K gold over brass knobs and fascia(in place of gold colored plastic), and bass/treble controls.

The Orchestra Reference basically occupies the position between the Orchestra and the DA30. The DA30 is similar to the DA60 pictured in the same post by Bwhite, but with 4 KT90 tubes, vs the DA60's 8.

Differences between the DA30 and Orchestra Reference are the DA30 features an active preamplifier section(in place of passive) w/tape monitor, tube standby, autobias, no tone controls, no transformer covers, and the gold toned fascia/knobs(in place of 24K gold over brass).

I find both the DA30 and Orchestra Reference to be superlative audio products, some of THE best I have ever come across. To me, the Orchestra Reference was the one to buy. Reasons being value, cosmetics, and tone controls. I cannot say which is really better sonically. They are a bit different. Which made the $2000 price difference factor big time into the equation.

Yes, you really need to mate the Orchestra Reference with good equipment. It takes a high level of ancillary components before you start to push the limits of the Jadis, as opposed to having it held back.

I like the tone controls. I am able to back off some on the poorly recorded digital(80's especially). And, when people who are not audiophiles come over, pumping up the bass, combined with my Coincident Troubass subwoofers, makes sure I never hear any "You should try !" comments. Yes, the bass is stupendous, even when I have the controls set flat(95+% of the time). It's those fabulous, huge Jadis transformers, caps, and KT90s.

I also like the fact that I can use EL34/6CA7/E34L/KT88/6550/KT90 output tubes. You cannot do that with an Orchestra. That amp can only run EL34/6CA7/E34L.

The Orchestra is $2495
The Orchestra Reference is $3495
The DA30 is $5018

I wish I knew how to post a picture in this thread(any help?). Then, I could throw an Orchestra Reference picture up.

By, the way, the Orchestra Reference mates extremely well with silver cabling. So, you might want to consider that.

Not sure if you can do much better in an integrated amp than the Jadis I own, but if Audio Materiere is as good or better, it is quite special.