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Hi all,
I am looking for the best solid state integrated amp out there under 3500$. 3000$ is the sweet spot for me. Power could be in the vicinity of about 100 watts per channel. I am particular about it being solid state. A hybrid design with tubes in the preamp stage is also okay.
Music: Classical, Jazz, 80's and 90's rock ( Not the heavy veriety)
The amps that are currently in the radar:
LFD and Croft. Both are from the UK. I am exploring gems in the US scene.
Follow Ups:
Look for a used Lavardin IT or Accuphase. I have had both in my system and, though they don't sound like a 300B, they commit very few of the iniquities that SS is known for.
I was looking the Luxman models. They seem to have bass – treble controls. And quite a few models. The 505u seems to be entry level model. Have any of you compared this amp to many others mentioned? I have very less experience with Japanese amplifiers.
Aright I have kind of shortlisted the following. What do you think ?
Ayre AX 7e, Luxman L 505u, Lavardin Model IS reference, Naim 5i
n/t
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Find me at: http://parttimeaudiophile.com
Agree L-505u a good choice given the extra information. Used one not so easy to find though.
Many good choices, but..
What speakers do you own (efficiency)?
Require balanced connection?
Will minimalist integrated do or need one that's more versatile?
Must have remote control?
Desire Class A operation?
Used OK?
Need phono amp onboard?
etc. etc.
I have auditioned and owned a few integrated's. A short list of some good ones I'm familiar with includes: Luxman L505u, Blue Circle DAR, Lavarin IS Reference, Nait 5i-2, LFD MK IV and NCSE.
I now have the latter from my short list, but NCSE's strength is acoustic, small ensemble, vocals - not large scale orchestra. Works for me but likely not for others. Audition integrated with your other components before buying - or don't buy. Cheers.
Blumenhofer fun 17.
http://www.blumenhofer-acoustics.com/Loudspeakers/SerieFun/bigFun17/bigFun17.html
91 db and easy to drive. But likes quality power.
Large scale orchestra is what I listen to most of the time. Apart from small scale Jazz and 70s and 80s rock.
Ayre Ax-7e
Just read the speakers are 91db.....100 rms is a lot for that sensitivity, if phase and such is reasonable.
You could get by with less power, easily.
A USED Pass Xa30.5 integrated MAY be had for 3500$.
don't sell it short. It should be superior and in NO way inferior to anything mentioned so far in this thread.
Too much is never enough
I suggest you listen to the Ayre AX-7e Integrated amp. I own the Ayre AX-7e integrated amplifier driving my Sonus Faber Auditor M Speakers in my living room. The music source is the Ayre CX-7eMP CD Player running balanced cables (XLR) to the Ayre amp.
The Ayre AX-7e is a basic two channel integrated amplifier without many bells and whistles. It is a great sounding amplifier that works with many different speakers. The Ayre AX-7e Integrated amp sounds much better running with balanced inputs and not RCA inputs. Many reviewers have said this. If your source does not have balanced outputs to your amplifier, maybe you should look at a source that has balanced outputs (XLR connections). My Ayre AX-7e integrated sounds great to my ears. You should give it a listen.
How much do the Ayre AX-7e sell for in the USA ?
Cheers to all !
I believe the AX-7e Integrated Amplifier is $3,500. Used units are priced around $2,000.
Doesn't Bryston make an integrated in this category?
Too much is never enough
Put the New Quad Elite QSP in your radar. Good review in April HFN & RR
Edits: 03/13/12
The QSP is a power amp, no? OP is looking for an integrated.
n
You are correct. With apologies.
This brand doesn't get mentioned ever -Vincent. Even Fremer (Stereophile) gave the SV236 a thumbs up. Under your max so you can spend more on cables and IC's. Maybe some will say not "audiophile" however, pair it with good speakers and you will be rewarded with great sound. It was on my short list
but I went tube stuff.
Thank me later.
Hi all,
I am not too hung up about the price point like many have already pointed out, I am just looking for a very high performing amplifier in the general vicinity of 3000 $.
I have this speaker:
Blumenhofer fun 17.
http://www.blumenhofer-acoustics.com/Loudspeakers/SerieFun/bigFun17/bigFun17.html
91 db and easy to drive. But likes quality power.
.
No offence but why do people always give a price point when asking this question? If a $1,5oo. amp sounded better than a $3,500 amp would you not buy it because it doesn't cost enough. When I am shopping for equipment I want the best sound for my money.....
"If a $1,5oo. amp sounded better than a $3,500 amp would you not buy it because it doesn't cost enough."
I can give you an example of a $1000 amp that sounds better than a $6000 unit but then we have a range of amps in the $3000 class that sound better than the $1000 unit and the $6000 unit.
He wants the best he can get in the $3000 - $3500 range. To simply ask for the best sounding amp for the money would be fruitless. To me, the best sounding amp for the money is a used Class D "T Amp" - for the money - but it's no match for some amps in the $3000 class.
"When I am shopping for equipment I want the best sound for my money....."
Not trying to be a smart ass but "his money" is in the $3000 - $3500 range.
If I were looking for a $3500 integrated, I would certainly be intrigued by overperforming offerings that were available for far under that budget.
NT.
I was auditioning a number of integrated amps a few years ago and I found the Jeff Rowland Concentra II to be my favorite. I had it at time when I was tying to simplify my system and eliminate all the clutter. That lasted a while until the bug bit me again and I went all out with a pair of huge tube monoblocks.... but that's another story.
I also tried the Pass Labs INT-150 and although it was a nice sounding integrated (and well reviewed), I thought it lacked that dynamic punch and lively sound I achieved with the Pass X2.5 and X150 separates. I believe the INT-150 uses a passive linestage internally and that might explain the difference in character as the INT-150 uses essentially the same power amp section as the X150 amp.
My least favorite "expensive" integrated was the pretty looking Mark Levinson No. 383. The ergonomics and versatility of this integrated are phenomenal but unfortunately it's sound was sterile and boring. I often describe it as the perfect integrated for driving an elevator music system.
Of the "bargain" integrated amps that I have owned, I am very impressed with the sub $1000 Marantz PM8003. I believe the current production replacement is the PM8004.
I have yet to try the BAT VK300 series which a lot of people like.
I kind of regret selling the Jeff Rowland Concentra II. I bought mine used but it was in pristine condition and the next buyer got a great deal on it. I bought it "right" and just passed the great deal on to the next guy. I could have gotten more for it.
Interesting posts and suggestions. Thanks guys.I am also looking in the used market. I saw the new modwright and pass lab integrateds.Cannot afford them new. Need to see what prices they go for in the used market. Any of you have experience with these ?
Edits: 03/02/12
Plinius has some nice integrateds. Many people have liked the YBA integrated amplifiers.
I also want to know more about Naim amplifiers. I have never heard one although I hear a lot of good things and sometimes mixed opinions.
I love my Luxman L505u -- overall the best piece of gear I've ever bought and built to last. I enjoyed the LFD, Naim and Moon amps I demo'd en route to the Lux as well.
n
Good options from Ayre, Simaudio, Naim (Supernait) and Rega (Elicit 3)...all around the $3 - $3.5K range pretty much.
Judging by your taste in music, I'd think any of these (your LFD mention is a good one, too) would fit the mold pretty well.
We'll have to agree to disagree about global warming until the next global cooling scare comes along
There's something coming out you'll be very interested in. Sorry, not at liberty to say more.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Dr. Greg House
Hmm. (1) You are partial to Rogue. (2) Mark O'Brien has been moving into hybrid digital amp designs. (3) The new Hydra and Medusa power amplifiers feature "a triode tube front end combined with a class D Mosfet output section" (quoted from Rogue's website).
Well, I will only whisper the following:
ROGUE HAS A HYBRID CLASS-D INTEGRATED AMP ON THE WAY!!!
Any early info on this model ?
They spilled the beans to stereophile, so I guess I don't have to be coy.I hear they're shooting for 3-4 months.
The Atlas tube power amp is two grand, and the integrated based on it is two grand. Based on that we can hope the new integrated will be three grand, just like the amp.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Dr. Greg House
Edits: 03/02/12
It is a 100W(8 Ohms)/150W(4 Ohms) hybrid integrated with a 6SN7 "preamp" section. There are 2 pretty good reviews on the the site (go to the URL below) which describe its strength and weaknesses. Gilbert Yeung can customize it for you: for example, you might want polished SS knobs instead of the wooden ones. I have heard this amp and rolled a number of 6SN7GT tubes into it when it was debuted at RMF in 2008 (I think). NOS tubes generally worked better than the EH it came with. I heard it with some smallish JM_Reynaud Cantabile speakers and the combination was quite delightful to my ears.
Good luck in your search.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
..it appears that Blue Circle lightened up just a bit on the bathtub silicone sealer construction method which should be a bonus for those concerned with neatness. ;-)
The blue circle looks like a great option. I will do some research into it now.
It's very good as it is but it sounds even better (tighter on the bottom, smoother in the mids) with an active gain stage and a Shallco volume control. Takes it a bit over your budget but worth at least considering.
The 6SN7 is an input tube, one signal per triode with unit (no) gain. To add a tube gain stage, he'd have to add another tube. But there isn't much room to do that. The other alternative is to add the SS gain stage from the SBH, which is a little beauty he uses in some other amps as well. Do you know what the gain stage consists of?
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Edits: 03/01/12
Might be nice to mention that in your posts.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Dr. Greg House
Yes and everybody knows that. That said, I wasn't pushing BC amps over anybody else's just clarifying that the DAR is better with the upgrades. If you consider that promotion more than information, well there you are, I guess.
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