British Integrated Amps

I've owned a Creek 4140 (version 1) for years. I was deciding between the Creek and a Naim Nait 2 at the time. I've really liked the sound but didn't really realize how good it actually sounded until this past year when I had a chance to have some other amplifiers in my system.

PS Audio Stellar Strata: Much worse than the Creek. Sound seemed a bit synthetic. Maybe that is due to its Class D design?
Creek Evo 50: Worse than the Creek. Sounded ponderous and slow. Lacked pace.
Pathos Classic One: About at the same level as the Creek
Belles Aria Integrated: Similar in character to the Creek, but better resolution and imaging of the soundstage.

I also listened to some amplifiers at dealers:

Naim Supernait 3: A disappointment given all of the good reviews that I read about it. It sounded a bit gray in tonal color and a bit two-dimensional
Sugden A21 Signature: My impression of the Supernait 3 probably suffered because it was listening to it next to the Sugden. The amount of tonal color and fullness of sound that the Sugden was able to convey was impressive.

Calvin, Interesting commentary and thank you for the post.  I had a Creek 5050 many years ago after a 3-4 year sabbatical from audio when my daughter was born.  It was pretty nice but I was greatly more impressed by the Creek 4330 that I had years later.

I’m also not a great fan of class D.  To me, they all sound a little dry and need to be paired with a tube preamp.

Right now I have a Linn Majik I, Music Fidelity B1, Acurus DIA100, and will soon be getting a Meridian 551.  The DIA, which is excellent, is for sale & giving the MF to my nephew.

@lou_setriodes Although not relevant to this discussion, your mention of the Acurus DIA100 brought back great memories.  It was the first piece of good audio gear that I ever owned, and it got me started in this wonderful hobby.  

You might want to check out a Sonneteer Alabaster. Just a simple, great integrated amp. Superb sound but like the LFD NCSE, no remote. I’ve had both. Now using Pass INT-25.

The NCSE and the Harbeth m30.1's are a fantastic pairing.  

your mention of the Acurus DIA100 brought back great memories

haha for me that one brings back one of my few episodes of hifi ptsd... i had these driving totem 1’s back in the day, just brutally harsh and aggressive treble -- am sure the amp/speaker match was not ideal but man what a painful learning experience that was ... don't just pick random 'recommended components' and expect them to work together