2. amps-preamps
  3. 186429-185098

Integrated Amplifier for Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolution

I just purchased second hand SF Guarneri Evo's. They are the nicest looking stand mounted speakers I've seen.

I'm currently driving them with a NAD M33 and I think it is not the right match for them. There is no dynamics and they sound thin to me. I think these speaker have a lot more potential.The speakers are 4 ohms with a sensitivity of 86db. I listen to jazz, blues, instrumental and classical mostly.

My room is about 13 by 17 ft.. I have a Bluesound streamer and a Denafrips Ares II DAC.

I'm open to suggestions or recommendations for a nice Integrated Amp. I have a $10-12K budget. I rather buy it used, since I think I get a better value. I live in the Los Angeles area.

Thanks.

 

 

chemarcelo
mrskeptic
262 posts
 

Hearing "correctly." That was my first laugh for the day. 

Primare makes very good integrateds and the one I have, the I25, sounds great and can be set up to stream with their NP5 Prisma network player if you want to go that route. 

skchun's avatar
skchun
23 posts
 

I have the same speaker and I’m currently driving them with an Audio Research Gsi75 supplemented with a Rel t7i sub and I’m very happy.

The unit has one of ARC’s better dac circuitry and very good phono pre.

The base is tight, lots of details and perfect tones to my ears.

I was previously driving them with a McIntosh ma7000 (last of their last all analogue integrated) and the Gsi75 is better.

There is one for sale in Audiogon market for an amazing price of $6000 (orig. $16000)

skc

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

Agree with the DAC and streamer upgrades.  

Subs are good, but are you taking the LF load off the amp and main speakers?  That is where the real improvements come at anything above background levels. 

 You may not like the response Dirac tries for.  You might be better off playing with the eq settings in your player if you have them.   My new crossovers are flatter and a bit better phase than the previous ones. In my room, they were now way too bright which makes music lose the impact.  Backed off the treble, and the dynamics came back. 

 

swede58's avatar
swede58
133 posts
 

A used Diablo 300! Power, finesse and great bass.

vonhelmholtz
911 posts
 

Your question is also dependent on your preferences. I approached purchasing a system by first buying an integrated amplifier. At the time, I wanted the simplicity of an integrated. The McIntosh MA12000 had just been released to positive reviews, so that was my first purchase. I auditioned them with Sonus Farber and Klipsch.  The S.F. Sounded great, but the Klipsch wasn’t to my liking.  I then visited local McIntosh dealers to listen to speakers in the $10-20K range with this amplifier. I really liked what I heard with Sonus Farber and Wilson. I ended up going with the Sabrina X, but I loved the Sonus Farbers. I like the McIntosh house sound and through the S.F.s the results were very musical to my ears. Dealers that carry Sonus Farber and McIntosh are pretty easy to find and likely they can also provide alternatives to the McIntosh.

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