2. amps-preamps
  3. 1136848549

Is There any Truly "High End" Integrated Amp?


I'm a reasonably well experienced audio nut and have tried a number of "good" integrated amps. I wonder, though, if there are integrated amps that are good enough for the "best", most revealing speakers. (Think Avalon Eidolon, Verity Parsifal, various JM Lab Utopias, and a variety of other fine speakers that do not have mammoth power requirements.)

People talk about the Levinson, the Musical Fidelity KW-500 and the lesser MF amps, the BAT integrated, The Rowland Concerto, etc. etc. etc.

I would like to hear from people who have actually tried the top tier of integrated amps and would be very interested in learning of their findings.

Don't need to be the most expensive. Could be the YBA Passion, Classe, MacIntosh 6900, Krell 400i, or any of a number of integrated amps that are supposed to sound good.

Hope to hear some good feedback.

Thanks very much.
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kalan
185 posts
 


Someone already mentioned the excellent GamuT DI-150---very nice and quite expensive.

Another really good integrated is the Linar 10--and not nearly as expensive as the DI-150. It is a 5.1 channel integrated that can be switched into four channels into two-channel stereo for the easiest bi-amping I know. (It’s a matter of connecting speaker cables appropriately and hitting a switch on the remote.) I heard this unit (at a friend’s house) played as a normal stereo amp and liked it a lot, then heard it in 4 x 2 stereo, bi-amp’ed, and it blew my sox off. Four channels of clean, 125 watts (each) in stereo mode really sang.

Linar gear sounds clear, open, extended, musical, and controlled. The frequency extension is the first thing I noticed: lows go quite low and the highs seem to just go on and on. It is on my short list if I want to down size.
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jprice OP
50 posts
 

I bought a GamuT DI-150 and it was a wonderful sounding integrated amplifier. It was also beautiful to look at - - - Probably the best looking piece of audio gear I've ever seen.

My only problem with the Gamut was the fact that it didn't have a balance control. In the room where the integrated is to be used, a balance control is quite valuable and somewhat necessary.

This is also a problem with the wide variety of Musical Fidelity integrated amps - no balance control.

I sold the GamuT and bought a Rowland Concerto integrated. Sounds just about as good (I think it sounds every bit as good) and it does have my precious balance control. I guess the only problem with the Rowland is that it doesn't begin to look as good as the GamuT. Oh Well. . . . .
kalan
185 posts
 
Jprice, what speakers are you using with the Rowland Concerto, please?
piedpiper
753 posts
 
The ASR emmiter is supposed to be last amp you'll ever need and is an integrated.
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jprice OP
50 posts
 

In response to a question from Kalan (above)

I am using the Rowland Concerto integrated amp with Verity Parsifal Encore speakers at a weekend house. These are speakers that are usually coupled with the best separates - but they sound GREAT with the Rowland.

In my home system, I have used the Rowland with my Avalon Eidolons and the little integrated sounds very close to my Spectral amps & preamp.
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