???What's The LEAST Expensive "End Game"Amplifier You've Ever Heard???


Pretty simple question..
While I’m sure the "No Such Thing" crowd will make sure they represent,I’m not interested in their rhetoric..
I am however,most interested to hear from those who have heard integrated amplifiers they could get off the merry go round with,ESPECIALLY if it was on the more budget end of cost..For myself it would have to be the Sugden A21SE but that was 2 years ago,before the cost climbed to $4000.00......
Thanks for participating..

freediver

I bought a used Yamaha CA-800 in Japan last year for $300 US. From what I’ve read it seems to be a tough one to knock off any block. While I lust after some $10000 options I don’t think they’d ever sound better given my small room set up. 

Plinius, Hautonga for newer gear but, I could seriously call it quits with a vintage Sansui, AU-9500. It does everything right.

On this forum budget is my max. So the best bang for the sound, money for me was the Primaluna. I compared it to an integrated 3X the cost. 

I liked the accuracy with instrumental music. Crisp reed vibration from strings, could here the majesty of the tuba, clear, low,  the reed being bit down on for a tight high on the sax. The other integrated missed it. I was fortunate it matched my speakers perfectly. I hope you find the right one for you. 

This may not be my actual end game amp, but I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed if it were: Octave v110SE with KT150s and the Super Black Box cap bank. About £11k in the UK and it comprehensively saw off my Mark Levinsons. 

This is an interesting conversation. 
There’s not as much overlap here as I expected they would be… That is to say there is a high degree of variation.

The best integrated amp I have heard to date is the ECI 6D from electrocompaniet.