Integrated amp: Component weight

I can understand that...I feel that way (biased) about some amazing gear from other countries.  But I say nothing spotty here.  Bill Parish at GTT has fantastic service and most of all knowledge.  Just talk to him.  I think the Makua w Tambaqui is the sweet spot, save a stand alone Tambaqui.  So many people have these and love them.  Getting the Makua lets you play with different amps now and later.  And the Makua is visually stunning.  I only stream, no vinyl or other inputs, but still I love the preamp w DAC.  If you have an issue, Bill will take care of you. It takes a much more expensive preamp to best the Makua, and the internal Tambaqui is exactly the same as their stand alone Tambaqui.  And together it is a value if you consider yourself getting a DAC like the Tambaqui :)

@fastfreight

No, it just isn’t a good fit. Now that GTT has sent me a price list, I find that a Mola Mola system would cost 50% more than what I’m looking to spend. And even if that wasn’t the case, I don’t see it satisfying the connectivity requirements I outlined in my original post. So I’ll have to pass, unfortunately.

I have to say that GTT was very responsive & professional. It seems like a great outfit to work with.  Wish we could have done business together this time.

Fair enough!  Again good luck!

i'm 78 and cannot manage any lifting any more. I got rid of my pass monoblocks and old B&W floorstanders and bought some devore O96 efficient speakers and a Nagra classic amplifier. I run my dac/streamer thru the amplifier direct. Lightweight speakers- amp is only 39 lbs .. the sound is great headroom, soundstage as good as I had before. 

My thought is with the other guys--get some efficient speakers, and your choices for lightweight amplification are endless.

A few people asked me to post when I came to a final decision. Well, I’m not there yet, but I think I’ve finally checked out every suggestion that’s been made in this lengthy thread. Wow, it’s been complicated!

My completed spreadsheet tells me:

A list (at most one failure to meet my list of requirements, but no dealbreakers):

Ayre EX-8 2.0 (#1 choice, but hard to find, which makes me nervous) Benchmark Benchmark LA4 pre + AHB2 pwr + DAC3 L
Bryston B135cubed
Hegel H590 (too heavy, but o/w second only to the Ayre)

Plan B
Devialet Expert 220 Pro (configuration nightmare)
Naim Uniti Nova PE (brand new, not yet reviewed)
Pass XP-12 (paired with what amp? Not sure where I’d go with this great pre)
Simaudio Moon 340i X (maybe for amp/preamp only, not phono or DAC)

As for DAC/transports, if I don’t go with an Ayre, I’d have to come up with some sort of outboard DAC/streamer/transport. I still like HiFi Rose’s streaming UI a lot, but am less enthused about the company’s DACs and quality control.

Anyway, I think that’s progress. If any has any other suggestions, I’m still open to new ideas.

A Pass Labs / Devialet combo would be interesting, eh? If only from an intellectual-curiosity standponit. I’m sure both mfrs would be horrified!