Best integrated amps under $9k


I am building a new house and I will be having a large great room ( 25x28).  I love music and and I love to hear all the different instruments clearly.  I don't need a heavy bass.  I am also not going to be playing music at real loud levels.   I like wide dispersion speakers.  I have been looking at integrated amps from Krell, Classe, Pass, Macintosh, ATI.  Any advice?  Sound quality is really important to me.   Whatever I buy will last a lifetime.  The reason I am thinking about integrated is that I like the idea of AMP/Pre-Amp in one box.  Any input is appreciated.  

willgolf
So you need speaker also within that 9k? Or you have speakers already that have not been mentioned? Speakers first is the rule of thumb, then match amp to speakers... 


willgolf  Hi.

Before anyone can recommend anything, we need to know what speakers this integrated amp will have to drive.

As without knowing this it's wrong to recommend anything until this is known or you'll end up with an amp that's not suited. EG: Like 300w to drive horns or 8w single ended to drive Wilsons ect ect.


Cheers George    

Many thanks for your comments so far.  Speakers are still an open option.  Currently I am looking at Totem Hawk or Revel F208.  I am also going to fly to Utah to listen to the Tekton Pendragon.  

willgolf: Can’t find anything on the Hawk, but do like what Revel do with the ones I’ve heard, always been a fan of theirs.

The F208 needs a good 4ohm rated amp as by Stereophile, when this is said that usually indicates an amp that can increase it 8ohm wattage by a fair margin into 4ohms.

From Stereophile measured report.

"However, the combination of 5 ohms and –50° at 25Hz means that the F208 will need to be driven by a good 4 ohm-rated amplifier."

Looking at this, I could confidently recommend a John Curl (up there with Nelson Pass) designed Parasound Halo Integrated, and it’s way under your budget, and loaded with features, like it has digital input for an inbuilt dac, both moving coil and moving magnet phono stage, remote, the list goes on.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/parasound-halo-integrated-integrated-amplifier#7UTByZd2hEKewWO3.97

And what a warranty: " warranty period is for a term of five (5) years for parts and five (5) years for labor, from the date when the Product was purchased from an Authorized Parasound Dealer"


Cheers George

 

Agree with others you need to finalize your speakers first.  If you're considering the F208s I'd think the Totem Forest might be the more appropriate option instead of the Halk since they're more in the same price range.  Best of luck.