Best used integrated under $5k

@marrduk24

responding to your reply earlier - i did not mean to say that the hegel h360 does not have a DAC (it certainly does)

what I meant to say is that the current gen hegels have specifically improved the DAC sections of the units over the prior gen ... thus, if you do not have a need to use the DAC in the H360, it is a good value used as an amplifier

conversely, if you wanted to use the onboard DAC, then best to get the latest gen H390 or H590 as these will provide the cleanest D to A conversion that Hegel offers

...either way, you are correct, you will need a separate phono stage if using a Hegel... they only have line level RCA inputs

sorry for my sloppy writing :)

and BTW - no affiliation here with Hegel... just a very happy and very impressed customer...

I own a Hegel H360 and it's fantastic.  I would try to find a dealer willing to sell you a H390 for $4500, which I think that you can find.  Best integrated on the planet!

To add to what @jjss49 was trying to get at, I believe, is the quality of the DAC.  The 360 has a dac/streamer, yes.  However, the newer 390 has a much better dac/streamer.  Also a better preamp/amp section.

I've owned 4 different Hegels, and the newer models have performed quite a bit better all around than the discontinued models (360).

All that being said, my vote goes for the Luxman and separate dac (with streamer) to meet your sound preference.  The phono stage in Luxmans are no slouch either.

You can get a streamer/dac used for reasonable prices, i.e. - Auralic Altair, Teac NT-505, Simaudio 280D.

Good luck in your search!

@jjss49 You already nailed it!  Didn't see your reply, ha!

I'm with the Lyngdorf great sound.  Take a look at the new Anthem integrated, It's pretty nice.