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Help selecting integrated amp for ls50

Hey everyone,
its been a long time since I e posted here but it's time to upgrade my system and I need suggestions. 

Im thinking heavily of picking up the ls50s (although I've selected these without auditioning them since no shop here has demos).  I needed something small and in a white color (and yes, these factors were influenced by decor and my wife).  So if I do choose the ls50s I would also need a integrated amplifier.  I've read tons about the necessity of careful matching of room, amp and placement so I thought I'd better ask here before I pull the trigger. 

The room ithe system will be in is concrete and is about 15'x23'. It's a combined kitchen and living room no separation. There is carpeting on the living room which is 15'x13'. The speakers will be on a sliding shelf from a wall unit/ cabinet system. The shelf will allow the speaker to stick out of the cabinet. 

Budget is ideally <$1,000 for the amp but I'll likely get a used one to maximize the buck. Any help would be really appreciated!



autre
treebeard1
148 posts
 
What @zuio said - get the active LS50s. The reviews are fantastic and no amp to buy. The main drawback is there is only one digital input. So no CD and Tidal. You have to pick. TV would be on RCA. If that’s not an issue then active is the way to go.

If you are set on an integrated you might look at the Parasound Halo integrated. It has a built-in DAC with all the connections you will ever need, including phono pre and high/low sub crossovers.  I just ordered one for my KEF R300s. Don’t have it yet so I can’t attest to the SQ but reviews are stellar.
pokey77
1,267 posts
 
I've heard the LS50s a number of times. And always with Parasound gear. The gear was always separates and in the introduction year with around $5-6k of pre/amp, they really sung. Everyone at the Newport Show that was walking into that room really liked them and I thought very seriously about buying a pair even though I had no use for them. I've also heard the LS50s with less power, still Parasound, and felt they were not as good. They seem to require a lot of clean power to sound their best. It is possible the Parasound Integrated would work well but have not heard that combo. Also have not heard the active version.
autre OP
63 posts
 
Thanks for all the input!  I've been offline for a while and it was nice to see more responses. Yeah the wireless versions are tempting but they are a bit too high for now.  I've gone a ton of reading and opinions are all over the place. The constants I do see is that it needs a good deal of power and that placement and room size plays a large role. I've seen a fair number of good results with Musical Fidelity 3, Rega Brio-R, Rogue Sphinx and NAD D3020, and some of the BEE models. Others include Marantz PM6005 and 8005 and a Yamaha model, Creek EVO and Arcam A19,A29. Lots of options but no clear winner.   Phew I'm exhausted. 
autre OP
63 posts
 
Exhausted but having fun!  I also did see that Wyred4sound MiNT (thanks), and the Peachtree models, both of which are high on my list along with the Rogue
autre OP
63 posts
 
Well I've narrowed it down to the Rogue Sphinx, Peachtree Nova 125se, and the Wyred 4 Sound mINT
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