2. amps-preamps
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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
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Bigcigarman, I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding the VTL. I listened to it, and was not impressed. As you said, it just wasn't that good. I fail to see where all the hoopla comes from for this amp. Chip Stern's review in Stereophile was an abomination. The fact is that he reviews a lot of integrateds, each one seems to end up as the best he has ever heard. I wonder how he forms his opinions. As horrible and amatuerish as Michael Fremer is, he does seem more often correct than Chip Stern. I do have to praise Stern's writing style however. As far as a tube amp goes, have you listened to anything from Jadis? Their Orchestra Reference, DA-30, and DA-60 are all wonderful. As good as I have come across. Don't be misled by the extremely conservative Jadis power specs; they measure far more powerfully than they advertise. The DA-60's 8 Ei KT90 output tubes should address the power requirements of all but the most insensitive loudspeakers. On the solid state side, Jeff Rowland makes some very nice sounding equipment. I would not be surprised if the Concentra was an all star integrated.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Have you tried the YBA Integre DT ?? Stereophile class A
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.
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