Better Integrated Amp?

This UK based channel has some good advice. Here's one video but take a look at his others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EAJPpVvrpw&ab_channel=ABritishAudiophile

I can highly recommend the $599 (US) Rega Io integrated amp. The sound quality is amazing for the money. IMHO it sounds  much better than the Rega Brio that I compared it to. It only puts out 30 watts per channel so you will need to match it to appropriate speakers. I am using it with a pair of Tannoy Mercury M1's in my bedroom system but will be upgrading to the Vandersteen Wood VLR's when I can. My dealer shows it with Proac and Vandersteen speakers and the combination with the VLR's, even the $3K VLR CT's, is really good.

The unit also has a good phono stage and sounded great with the Rega P3 with an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. You should check it out. Good Luck!

Music Hall a15.3 w/ phono stage and 50 watts/ ch. @$550 new.

There really hasn’t been any major advancements in technology in the past 50 years that would make me think that whatever integrated you choose will become obsolete. You could hook up a vintage tube integrated to a streaming dac and be right up to date with modern systems. It’s really only the digital front end parts that are changing. A well built integrated can also last indefinitely with minimal service. It’s well worth either stretching your budget, or do what many of us here do and buy/sell/trade equipment as we go. It’s part of the fun. For that reason I’d recommend looking in the used market. Read reviews and check out brands like Arcam, Creek, Cyrus, Linn, Nad, Naim, Musical Fidelity, Quad, Rega, Roksan etc, all should be easy to find 2nd hand locally. Skip the Denon. It’s a good starter brand (the second amp I bought was a Denon) but many of those others I mentioned previously will get you closer to that high end sound.