Bryston B135 Cubed. It's an amazing sounding unit!
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re reading this entire thread, i am struck by what a wealth of high performing integrated amps we have in this present day... so wonderful to have such an extensive range of choices, using different technologies, at different price points, with different features integrated of course, we have lost many brick n mortar stores to let those in the market to buy one to easily hear/audition... but with such a lively used gear market, many of these can be economically auditioned at home if one makes a bit of an effort in this chaotic world we live in, it is actually wonderful time to be a music lover and hifi enthusiast! |
I have both the Blackhawk and the Parasound in rotation. They are both excellent. The Parasound actually has a wider soundstage, amazingly lifelike vocals, esp female. The Blackhawk seems to present more detail esp in the upper registers, and degree dependent on the row 3 tubes chosen. Both are surpassed by my Simaudio Moon 340i, which has the best qualities of both—but all three are superb, and I can imagine a more committed rank order by someone with different ears. Although I would be surprised to hear the Parasound chosen over the Simaudio Moon! |
@izjjzi you'll be very happy with your new Macintosh MA12000, it took them almost four months to deliver my order, but it was worth waiting! |
Main system - Switch between Line Magnetic 518IA (845 output tubes) and a Finale Audio 7189 MK2 (7189A/EL84M output tubes). (Also have Modwright separates in this system which I switch to) 2nd System - Ayon Audio Spirit 2 (KT88 output tubes) When I first got into integrated amps I had a couple of SS ones, a Portal Panche and a Plinius 8200; then when I decided to give tubes a try I had a Quest for Sound, a Consonance and a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum |
Bought a Technics SUG700 here a year or so ago. The amp is beautiful both in looks, and sound or lack thereof, zero noise I mean dead silent running. The amp is very good but the companies Panasonic and it’s subsidiary Technics totally suck when it comes to service! While I did not need any I wanted to find out more about the amp’s capabilities not listed in the manual. The thing is you cannot get thru to anyone in either company, email addresses in the manual don’t work or you get a recording sending you to an email that does not work. So failing to get thru to Technics I called the parent company and had the same results. Though I was able to leave a message on one email address but never got a response. Because of this total lack of support, I would avoid anything to do with either operation’s product line regardless of how well made. Highly unrecommended. |
besides my sphinx i also use a NAD 316 upstairs with some old dynaco speakers (another technics 1200, a lower end nakamkchi and a little ifi bluetooth receiver as sources). this is the system my wife & kids use every day. i usually have it on for an hour or two myself after work while i do chores, cook dinner etc. very sweet sound, this system is obviously not the last word in resolution or dynamics but the amp, especially, is stupid cheap for what you get, and if i find some sticky fingerprints on it from time to time that's just part of the fun |
I have a Simaudio 600i in one system and an Audio Research Vsi55 in another. The ARC is used in my office and helps keep me warm in the winter. All kidding aside, it's a really great sounding integrated and I don't need a lot of power in that space. I currently have my Harbeth Super HL5 Plus in the office and the Vsi55 has no problem driving them when I get the opportunity to turn up the volume. The 600i is very dynamic and detailed and mates up great with my Harbeth P3ESR speakers. It's a nearfield system in my computer room and sounds fantastic. In the right space, this would make a wonderful main system. Actually, I enjoy it as much or more as my main system, it's a little more detailed, but warm and easy to listen to. |
Cambridge Audio Azure 840a is an unbelievably good integrated amp. I’ve had mine for years and it’s been both reliable and extremely competent, holding its own against many more expensive components which have come and gone. It’s in my bedroom system driving Dali Mentors and sounds great. It does run hot though. |
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The last 14 months a Douk Audio 15wpc.Class A amp based on the Sugden A21 but I am getting ready to get either the Sugden A21SE or the Pathos InPol Remix MkII to drive my Harbeth M30.1's & ProAc Tablette Anniversaries... |
I think we're in a golden age for integrated amps. A lot of great ones already mentioned. I'm in love with my Boulder 866, which also has an incredible digital add-on that will allow you to sell your DAC. I was a separates guy for years, but the simplicity and all-around excellence of the Boulder put an end to that. It's just astonishing. |
Pass Labs INT 250. LOVE it! Best sounding amp for my application out of 7 different high end amps that I auditioned. The other amps were, Simaudio 340i, Naim Supernait 3, Pass Labs INT 60, Diablo 300, Luxman 509X, VAC 170i (integrated tube amp), and Hegel 590. They ALL sounded stellar. I’d have been thrilled with any of the ones I tried. But, for me, the INT 250 had everything I wanted and nothing I didn’t. Beautiful sounding amp. Sublime with my Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary speakers and dual power MSB Discrete DAC. |
Hegel H390, upgraded from the H360 a year ago for the Roon Ready feature. Still not Roon ready. Tighter/clearer all the way across. Feels slightly more extended but I bet thats just the extra grip the H390 has on the signal. The H360 is really nice to listen to, tho, and likely is a great bargain for someone to pick up used. Really low noise floor, clear and clean sounding without being sterile, pleanty of extension on both ends. Synergistic Research power conditioner, Sopra 2 speakers |
+1 @jjss49 -- you caught on to the silly "M33 has no equal at any price point" BS early on, and I’m glad you did’t let it go without a challenge. Now we know the ulterior motive! Lol! As for the other claim that there are no negative reviews on M33 anywhere, how about this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWR7MthiKWI |
@earlflynn 07-26-2021 8:29pm lmao -- well at least one of us had no dog in the fight... 🙄🙄🙄 let this be noted by other ’innocents’ coming to a forum like this for advice you come here, post a question, then advice and recommendations coming back at you often are not what they seem to be on the surface, ulterior motives abound always take note of who is answering, check their listings for sale, whether they are a dealer and not saying so, check their username 'details'... read other posts by the user before you act on what they are saying |
McIntosh MA-9000, soon to be the MA-12000 (on order). I heard a few others on this thread and the Sim Audio Moon 700i was nearly in my home. Instead, I went with the features of the Mc, along with the equally, if not more pleasing sound to my ear. I'm a sucker for the esthetics as well. I grew up with meters on every component and love them. Lastly, there is something to be said for resale value if I ever take another path. My money, my ears and I couldn't be happier. |
One of my fav integrated amps on rotation in an all vintage system... Sansui AU-111 circa 1968...fantastic quality wide bandwidth Hashimoto OPT and Mains transformers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE70CH0pbmo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rE_zdokFlI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG06qNbBiZs |
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@jjss49 the best part is @anotherbob is selling his M33. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisabf32-nad-m33-solid-state |
SimAudio 700i V2 Integrated amp. My SimAudio amplifier has excellent sound quality, solid construction and SimAudio has great customer service. The 700i V2 amp has an oversized dual-mono power supply. The 700i V2 amplifier has its own dedicated power supply for the preamplifier and features a considerably larger power transformer with greater reserve capacity. |
