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Best Integrated Amp

I've been on a quest for a long time for the best sounding integrated amp. I've tried everything in my home, The Krell KAV300i, the KAV500i, the Mark Levinson 383, the Musical Fidelity Nuvista integrated amp, The Audio Research CA50, the VTL IT-85 and countless others and I think I finally found just the right one; The Goldmund Mimesis SRI2. This integrated is rated at 125 watts into 8 and 200 watts in 4 with 25 amps of current available. When I was comparing this to the Levinson 383, it blew it out of the water, it was much smoother, MUCH MORE DETAILED and just plan more life sounding, I don't feel that the 383 sounds flat, I think they raised the midbass level to try to make the amp more exciting, however after time its just tiresome to listen to. Another amazing thing is that the Goldmund wasn't any weaker in power then the 383 and it cost considerably less at only $3750. I think I've finally find something I'm going to stick with a while. All the other integrated amps out there had flaws, the Krell KAV500i while more powerful, was dull and lacked soundstaging depth or width, the Audio Research CA50, while a wonderful sounding piece just lacked power with its 45 tube watts and the VTL, just wasn't that good. I honestly think that the Goldmund SRI2 is the best sounding piece of gear I've heard in a long time. If you get the chance you should listen to it for yourself. I was just wondering if anyone had any other ideas about what they thought was the best integrated out there. (BTW this integrated out performed a Levinson 334 and 360s and a Conrad-Johnson Premier 17LS with a Classe CAM350 that I heard last week)
bigcigarman
njonker
107 posts
 
Bigcigarman, thanks for a very informative post. Can you tell us a bit more about the associated hardware? I am particularly interested in the speakers you used with the 383 and the Goldmund?
yyoon
18 posts
 
How about the Sim Audio Moon I-5.
bigcigarman OP
14 posts
 
The associated hardware I used with the Levinson 383 and Goldmund were B&W Nautilus 803s, Thiel 2.3, Martin Logan Prodigy's which I have right now and the Maggie 3.6R and I've gotten a chance to hear Levinson with all of them and it just doesn't sound that good. Its not even an issue of money, I mean their built well, but I think the Krell is even more beautiful if all you care about is heft and looks, but even if the Goldmund was the same price as the 383, I still would'nt buy the 383. The problem I think is that many people with who are decently well off start with the 383 and don't get much chance to hear much else, because I mean it is a Levinson! For the rest of my system I've had the Accuphase DP-55 and Accuphase DP75V, Accuphase surely makes good digital. I've tried numerous cables from Kimber to Monster Cable Sigma to MIT to Transparent. Despite what other people say, the new MIT stuff is good. It isn't a crossover but a "phaseover" and puts the signal back in phase, MIT sounds very impressive with Martin Logan, however with the Thiels which are already phase correct, it wasn't the best combination. Kimber stuff is also pretty good especially the 8TC which works nicely with Goldmund, because Goldmund is ever toward the side of musical (AKA warm) Hope this helps.
rcprince
3,060 posts
 
I agree with Trelja in that the Jadis integrateds are the best sounding ones I have heard, although I have not heard the Goldmund, Gryphon or Pathos units. Given your speakers and their power requirements, though, they may not give you quite the power and control of the solid state units, even though they do, as Trelja points out, sound considerably more powerful than their ratings. I am surprised that the Goldmunds did so well with the Maggies, as I've always felt those speakers required a lot of power and current; I guess that says a lot about how well made the Goldmund is.
camadeco
133 posts
 
Seems everyone has decided to ignore the Plinius 8150/8200. I still think this is one of the best sounding and best values in an integrated. Next, everyone ALWAYS ignores the Densen integrateds. Smooth sounding and quite unique design. The Mesa Tigris, while only 35wpc in triode sounds much bigger and is a fun piece because of it's flexiblity. I own a Copland CTA-402 and believe it is the sleeper of the bunch! I would only replace it with the VAC Avatar because like the Copland, has the phono or go back to separates.
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