Integrated Amplifier balanced

PS Audio GCC series is fully balanced and excellent sound.

The budget is just for the integrated.

I have no intention of buying and selling! This is a long-term purchase and that was the reason why I am asking the experts!!

I called Mark Levinson and understand that they stopped making No.383 - I am not sure why. Is it a good idea to buy an amp that the manufacturer isn't interested in selling?

I heard good things about the Transporter - this is the first time I heard someone say that it is not a good DAC. The alternatives would be Benchmark DAC (same price range). I haven't looked at Bel Canto yet. I can get an optical-out from Squeezebox comes with a Optical Out so that is not a big issue.

YBA retail is $4650. I hope PS Audio is dual-voltage. I will check with them.

NAD M3. Not sure about the dual voltage.

So judging by your response you're buying new, not used? That changes your budget, as I was saying you could get a YBA under $3000 used. I would say, and this holds true for used gear, but since you're buying new you should go listen to as many units as you can and let your ears be the judge. If you're buying speakers too than many dealers may let you try out the gear in home for a deposit. Some of us do in fact buy gear and then, amazingly, sell it if it doesn't work out like we hoped or were advised it would.

In terms of the Levinson gear, just because they stopped making it doesn't mean it's not worth buying. A decision to stop manufacturing something doesn't mean it's not worthwhile, think of cars! Levinson is known for making quality gear, and while I haven't heard their integrated, many respect it highly.

I didn't say the transport doesn't have a good DAC, just that given your budget, that is one area I think you could probably improve on and still get a good integrated.

I still think that you should choose speakers before your amp, since, the sensitivity of the speakers you choose may change what type of integrated you want or need.

Sorry for any confusion. I am open to buying new or old, under $3,000 for just the integrated amp. Only, I am not going to resell it and buy another repeatedly. I don't have the expertise/time/inclination for that. Thanks to forums like this I am learning a lot but I am also more confused!

I know that the quality of sound depends on (a) the entire system/chain and (b) my ear. I cannot get to (b) unless I visit the dealers and before I do that I wanted to come up with a shortlist. For eg. Plinius/YBA are not represented in my area and I might have to travel.

I thought I simplified (a) when I decided that my entire chain consists of:

Computer/NAS->Transporter->IntegratedAmp->Speakers

It cannot get any simpler than that (except for the boombox). No matching preamp/amp, no Cd/phono players etc. I decided on solid-state because I have no idea about tube-rolling/matching.

Speakers didn't seem that difficult because my budget limits me to about $2k so I was looking at Klipsch/Usher/Wharfedale floorstanding models, all of them are <90dB sensitivity. But that is a question for another thread.

As I investigate integrated amps I realize this isn't going to be an easy process in spite of the constraints I imposed. I don't see a consensus and perhaps I shouldn't expect it.

I checked Plinius' site and realized that they have a "new" model now. Ditto with Rowland. I don't think audio is like computer chips (until recently chip technology was evolving rapidly). This is a mature field and if the manufacturer thinks they can come up with significant improvements every two or three years, does it mean there is something wrong with the previous models? I don't understand the cars analogy - I don't think the 2000 Camry is significantly different from the 2009 Camry.

I checked out the reviews in the magazines but I must also admit that I am somewhat disillusioned after reading Arthur Salvatore's opinions about the whole recommended components
mess. Too bad he is a tube/vinyl guy and doesn't have any recommendations for me!

I probably exposed my ignorance and annoyed some of you. I only insist that I mean no offense to any of you - you tried to help me and I thank you for your time.