Which integrated amp with Harbeths?

Nolitan - I agree, but I've just not been able to find a dealer that had the Harbeth Super 5s AND an integrated in the $2.5 - $3K range in stock to demo. I listen to jazz/standards/blues and, most importantly, female vocals. I'll keep looking in my travels but will probably end up just buying something here, knowing that if I don't like the synergy I can turn around and resell for a relatively small loss.

Drubin -

Have you tried any that you eliminated? Have you tried any solid state I-amps? I'm not the biggest fan of tubes but haven't ruled them completely out.

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming. My biggest hurdle in this whole adventure is the lack of dealers within 5-6 hours of where I choose to live. However, the US importer of Harbeth (Fidelis) also has a retail operation 6 hours drive from where I live and I'm headed there in 2 weeks. They carry Lavardin, Nuforce, Plinius, and a couple other brands of electronics. I've blocked out a half day to audition everything they have that's appropriate.

I know I asked for integrated amp suggestions, but has anyone heard the Nuforce 9s driving Harbeths? On paper they would look to be a great match, but then again, my ears aren't made out of paper!

In this age of instant gratification, you'll probably find it hard to believe that 6 months later I still haven''t purchased an integrated or separates. No one is more surprised than me - well, ok maybe my wife is! I did purchase the Ayre CX-7e two months ago here on A'gon. I have yet to find an opportunity to audition many of the integrateds I'm interested in with the Harbeths. The Harbeth importer's retail store that I was so anxious to get to in May, had made some line changes and didn't offer Nuforce any longer. They also only had one integrated that I could demo at that time. Big disappointment.

I did demo the Pathos Logos, and BAT integrateds while on a trip to NYC, but of course they didn't have Harbeths or anything in that genre of speakers. As a side note, I heard the Pathos driving the Sonics midsized floorstanders and was totally blown away by the soundstage and holographic presentation.

Bottom line is, I'm still listening to my 12 year old Onkyo integrated but out of frustration (and impatience) I'll probably 'pull the trigger' on something here on A'gon soon, even though I haven't auditioned it with my speakers.

" As a side note, I heard the Pathos driving the Sonics midsized floorstanders and was totally blown away by the soundstage and holographic presentation."

It was the Pathos Logos by the way. Way beyond my intended budget!

Drubin - you are correct, I listened to the Lavardin IT. Actually, they also had the Cambridge integrated that sells for around $1,300. I thought the Cambridge was very good for the money but left me wanting more. It's been too many months for me to remember all the details of my opinion of the Lavardin IT, but overall it produced a very nice presentation of the music. The soundstage was a bit 'between the speakers' confined. Not as broad or deep as I'm hoping to find in an integrated I can afford. The big negative for me was that it was too expensive new, and Lavardin doesn't offer a remote. Sorry, but at 55 I've earned the right to sit on my arse and adjust the volume without jumpin' up and down out of my listening chair. Fidelis claims to have asked Lavardin for a remote for the US market but they refuse.

Choosing to live in a remote location has many benefits, but it sure makes it hard to buy audio gear. Impossible to demo the products I'm interested in in my system, and can't find a dealer who has the same product lines to demo. I'll probably buy something used here on A'gon knowing that I can always turn it around if I don't like it.

Have you run across the Sonics speakers? I demo'd them at Singers in NYC. Fairly new to the market from an established designer. Apparently they have very limited distribution at this time. I listened to the small floorstander pushed by the Pathos Logos and was blown away by the soundstage. A bit beyond my price range but very impressive.