Ultimate Integrated amps

I haven't heard any of those you listed, can you provide some insights on each amp based upon your specific listening experiences ; and how you'd rate each to one another?

Kondo - Audio Note

I'll happily stick with my Luxman 509u and my Lyric Ti 140.  

I'm happy with my recent purchase, a Devialet Expert 440 ($19K), that I found to be very competitive with the other "Ultimate Integrateds".

Um, so to be clear, the are listed here because they are expensive, right??

:D

eric:  Good point.  I'm wondering how middle ground integrateds would fair in that list:  Ayre AX-5 twenty, Gryphon Diablo, AudioNet Watt, T&A, Ypsilon Phaeton.  None of these are in the $30K to $50K class but within some of our means (used prices anyway :).

I'm a big Luxman fan myself.
Other middle ground integrateds include Yamaha and Accuphase, and the ARC and McIntosh tube ints.

oh, and very interesting is the Anthem with built in room correction. Really wish I could hear that in action.

Guys there has been multiple threads discussing resonably priced integrated amps and there are too many amps under $20K to list them all.On the other hand 30 to 50K integrated are pretty rare and it would be nice to have your thoughts on why you went that route instead of the separates route at this price point.I did audition the CH Precision I1 driving Vivid Giya3, that combo was really smooth and liquid sounding.Also heard the Audionet Humboldt at Munich driving Dynaudios, i did not like this combo at all, not a good pairing imo.Borresen speakers would have been great with the Humboldt.I would like to audition the d'Agostino Momentum Int, if some of you are familiar with this piece please share your experience.

@erik_squires : Where do you live? I have the Anthem STR preamp (not the integrated) set up in Portland, OR, and you are welcome to come over for a listen.

Thanks, Mike!! A little far for an afternoon drive from Los Angeles. :)

Jeff rowlands gear is superb

Money is so often taken as the measure of all things in our society nowadays.

Admittedly limited to 10w but the Art Audio Harmony Silver Integrated is pretty amazing with Western Electric 300B Tubes.  Built around those tubes. it is a really special 300B.  

I'm still searching the ultimate integrated amp to build an end game rig with very little gear.So far my favorite ones are the d'Agostino Momentum Int and the Vitus SIA-030.I found the CH Precision a bit behind in terms of grunt.The speakers will be the Borresen 03s.Anyone heard the Audionet Humboldt ?

If you ignore the price tag, based on performance, I think the Pass Labs int 250 should be included.

Well if low power tubes is your thing I highly recommend Triode labs- Finale Audio out of Toronto, I have one of their F 3008 FX integrated amps and its spectacular. 8wpc though ($9k as outfitted). 

Also  Luxman fan. Pass labs Fan.  

Low power tubes will never be able to max out Borresen speakers unfortunately.The Borresen team uses their Aavik U-380 to power them.

In the Lower price range the Gryphon Diablo 300 is the best bang for the buck and it can drive just about everything.

What differences did you perceive between the D'Agostino and the Vitus 030? The Vitus looks like a monster!
Thanks for your opinion..
ATB,
Mark

The D'Agostino is really the ideal integrated if you want the best of both worlds tube and solid state sound in one single package.The sound is extremely engaging, organic, smooth, fast, detailed and very solid bass, it's never analitycal.The Vitus is pretty close but not as warm sounding.It is very transparent, fast, big slam and liquid sounding like CH Precision.The CH doesn't have the slam of the Vitus.I also know the Diablo 300 quite well and IMO the Vitus is in another league.

Thanks for your observations! 
Sounds like the Vitus is quite special....what more are you looking for? I have heard your speakers driven by Aavik pre and power amps- fantastic. I suspect that the Aavik integrated may not be up to the task...have you tried it?

IMO the Vitus 030 is the sweat spot if you want an ultra high end integrated with no compromise that can equal 50k worth of pre-power.Regarding the d'Agostino you pay a lot for the case work unfortunately.I would not put my money on the Aavik but that's my own opinion.

At about $23K, the T+A PA 3100 HV may be part of your list, albeit cheaper than $30K

Why are people so fascinated with ultra high end amps ? Most of the time they look pretentious and right out ugly, often of course speaker dependent, a LFD amp or Lavardin would sound just as well, if not better, amps with lots of watts and mammoth power supply is not always giving the best sound, often a nimble Alfa Romeo is better that a Lamborghini!!! Maybe if we were better choosing speaker with easier load, then the smaller amps would arguably be better sounding than an overbuilt mammoth!This was written with tongue in cheek ;-) in part...

Just because you are not going to pair a $15k integrated with $100K speakers.I don't see a Lavardin integrated driving a pair of Wilson Alexx, just makes sense.Regarding T+A, it might me a very good amp but this brand just like Aavik doesn't hold it's value IMO as opposed to Dartzeel, Vitus, CH Precision, d'Agostino, Gryphon, Luxman, Accuphase, Nagra and others to name a fiew.I would be careful when investing such a chunk of money in an amp of whatever gear that is.That doesn't mean T+A and Aavik are not good, they just lack image IMO.

Yup.  Any integrated over 80 lbs hits the sweat spot.

The craziest and most insane solid state integrated ever built is most likely the Vitus MP-I201 at 126 kg and a €100k price tag.I wonder who would spend 100k on an integrated.

But consider the savings of $27K on interconnects.

Sansui AU-111, is magic..

Pass Labs. Their stuff is extremely hard to beat. SQ and craftsmanship as good as it gets. Customer service at it’s very best. Nothing not to like. One of my ear’s very favorite flavors of amp. Their entire line is consistently, superbly, built.

Agree on a pass int-250 - great integrated, especially considering its price. The new Accuphase E-800 has been just released. I don't think anybody in US had a chance to hear it. But the specs are quite impressive for class A integrated. I am very curious.
But Its unfortunate that Accuphase gear in US costs more than twice the price in Japan. The E-800 msrp in US is $21k, in Japan its about $9800.

I have an E-800 on order.   It should arrive in 3 weeks or so.  List is $21,500 and there is already speculation that the price will increase to over $25,000 very soon as the E-800 is rivaling the Accuphase separates in terms of performance.    At present, the entire year's allocation to US retailers as almost been spoken for.

I will probably get the Audionet Humboldt.

Just to consider before pulling the trigger. Agostino is starting to ship this week a new progression integrated amp based on his latest thinking. The final version is naturally great looking and within their lineup it may be a ‘value’ if you can call $18000 a value. They’ve presold appx 200 units. Check out the info page on their website understanding that the photos were a prototype. Gone is the copper except for a sliver on the volume control. 

T+A PA 3100 HV. Look no further. If you have the cash of course

I have auditioned most integrated mentioned here and the new king of integrated IMO is the Audionet Humboldt sharing first place with d'Agostino Momentum.Obviously just my opinion.

FWIW the Agostino integrated that I’m mentioning is in the Progession series, not the Momentum. 

I think the best integrated (and probably the best amp) I have heard is the Engstrom Arne.

Not exactly in the budget but that new Vac integrated looks pretty wicked, I would really like to hear that vertical animal! And it’s only $150.000.00. Bet you won’t see many of those on Audiogon any time soon.

Scot

People of Agon, with all due respect, if you have nothing substantive to add, or you’re not responding to the OP’s original question / request for feedback, PLEASE don’t clutter the thread with unrelated irrelevant gobbledygook. I say this for the benefit of the site, so please don’t take it personally. Thank you to those of you whose responses were relevant and insightful

I have heard the D’Agostino Momentum and Progression. I was not impressed at all with the Progression. The Momentum OTOH, now that is one very sweet agile musical potent performer. Listened to them both driving Wilson Alexia 2. Not the easiest of loads. But also with the Sasha DAW, a slightly easier load. There is a significant price gap between the two, so I was expecting the pricier big brother to sound better - but the difference to my ears was more pronounced than I had expected

i’m currently looking into the Gryphon Diablo 300 without DAC. I’ve nothing to add bc I haven’t HEARD the thing. So I will keep my musings and spec sheet quotes and anecdotal comments to myself :))

@fredorama Um the OP posted this in 2019. Before your post the last post was in 2020. 

Reading is fundamental. With all due respect, Merry Christmas. 

 

Here's a list of ultimate Integrated amps between 30-50K for people who want a simple rig with no compromise :
Dan D'agostino Momentum IntegratedAudionet HumboldtVitus SIA-30CH Precision I1Aavik U-380Jeff Rowland Daemon
Soulution 530
Feel free to add others that you know of or share your experience if you own one of them.Cheers

thieliste09-18-2019 1:30pm

Audionet Humboldt   

Tektron 211 SE Tube

@fredorama I've owned the Diablo 300 for a year but unfortunately it didn't work out for my speakers, it was way too bright in the trebel and bass was not impressive at all.

I sold it a couple of month ago and purchased a Vitus SIA-025 Mk2 which is class A, it is much more refined and delivers much more current than the Diablo 300.

The Vitus is very smooth and liquid sounding.

I'm sure the Diablo 300 would pair well with Wilson Audio speakers.

@rick2000 The Audionet Humboldt is definitely my favorite integrated, i've demoed it in my system it is spectacular!

You also have the Vitus SIA-030 and the Pilium Leonidas in this categogy

Maybe the all new $38K Vinnie Rossi BRAMA Integrated amp is the very best Integrated on the planet period 🤔🤔

I do not think that there is such a thing as ´´ The best  ´´ this or that ,.

Yes, you need a minimum though.
As there is no ´´ Best denture ´´

´´ The best ´´ is the one that  fits your  mouth ( pleases  your ears )

There is also a lot of psychoacoustic with this hobby : my system sounds much

better after I clean it .

The Vinnie Rossi Brama has new Western Electric 300B tubes in it and you can put it in Triode mode and a lot more power for the very best of both worlds. I think you can do any better than that at any price with most speakers ! 🤔😃 

https://www.vinnierossi.com/brama-integrated-amplifier/

@rick2000

Mine had Electro Harmonix 300B as stock tubes

I replaced theme with Wester Electric 300B the day I got my Brama Integrated.

It is a good choice to have Western Electric as stock tubes.

You do not wish to have average tires  when you buy a Bentley

I think , the choice of Electro Harmonix was based on reliability .

 

@maxwave Yes the new Western Electric 300B tubes are said to be the best money can buy ! I see some that got the Vinnie Rossi Brama Integrated amps are now selling them and moving up to the Brama preamp and Brama amps after hearing them. They Must Sound Heavenly Good ! 

This Brama integrated looks like a very nice piece of gear, most likely the only one with 300B linestage.