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Is There any Truly "High End" Integrated Amp?


I'm a reasonably well experienced audio nut and have tried a number of "good" integrated amps. I wonder, though, if there are integrated amps that are good enough for the "best", most revealing speakers. (Think Avalon Eidolon, Verity Parsifal, various JM Lab Utopias, and a variety of other fine speakers that do not have mammoth power requirements.)

People talk about the Levinson, the Musical Fidelity KW-500 and the lesser MF amps, the BAT integrated, The Rowland Concerto, etc. etc. etc.

I would like to hear from people who have actually tried the top tier of integrated amps and would be very interested in learning of their findings.

Don't need to be the most expensive. Could be the YBA Passion, Classe, MacIntosh 6900, Krell 400i, or any of a number of integrated amps that are supposed to sound good.

Hope to hear some good feedback.

Thanks very much.
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jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
The Optonica SM5200 is an unassuming looking integrated amp from the late70s early 80s.These are comfortably better than 99% of pre-power combos.They use a simple STK 466 integrated amp module-no transistors,and sound closer to a really good modern valve amp than anything else.
They are better than any of the digital type amps I have heard and are only bettered by the very best valve pre-power combos.Unbelievable I know-but true!
larryi
3,979 posts
 
A possible candidate is the Viva Solisti. This is an Italian single-ended design that uses an 845 tube for each channel. It is a true integrated, not one of those tube "integrated" amps that have a passive linestage (only volume control and switching, no amplification/buffer).

I have heard Viva's prior model and liked it. I only heard the Solisti under show conditions, but the distributor insists it is much better than the model older model.
sounds_great
2 posts
 

I recently heard the Jeff Rowland Concerto Integrated Amp in my system and I am stunned. I am convinced that this amplifier is surely one of the best sounding piece of audio gear I've ever heard.

The build quality is phenomenal, has plenty of inputs, at 250 watts per channel, it will drive 'most anything, phono stage is as good as many of the "best" separates.

If there was ever a piece of equipment that I feel will successfully replace separate components in a high end system, this is it.
inpieces's avatar
inpieces
199 posts
 
Krell F.B.I.
FPB 300cx + KCT,= one hell of a unit!

http://www.krellonline.com/krell_component.php?id=90&page=FBI
cenline
238 posts
 
A new amp is in the free land and it is from Europe.Karan acoustics is a 180 watt integrated that has beat some huge separates in both resolution and musicality. It has huge drive with amazing bass thatcompetes with the best outhere, it has gold circuit boards and custom trannies with Sanken output devices, as well as amazing caps to boot.I am dealing with Avatar acoustics from Miami who imports these amazing amps.I am ordering a straight amp that is called the 270,it has 270 watts with a dampening factor of 6000.These amps are custom built by one man and are made to order,the cost is not cheap.I haven't bought an amplifier for 15 years and have tweaked mine to the nines.So now is the time to take the plunge!!!!Take care Dennis
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