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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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flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
I have had quite a few integrateds, currently getting great results with an Acoustic Plan Sitar that replaced an Audio Note Meishu (also a great SET option).

The Gryphon line is great (I owned a Tabu, Century and a Callisto) and a Jadis DA60 Signature for those out there that like tubes (I had it for almost a year and also a terrific amp)

Cheers,
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jprice OP
50 posts
 
I started this thread in 2006 and have experienced several excellent integrated since that time - the two latest were the Simaudio Moon I-7 - which was a phenomenal piece of gear and the Jeff Rowland 500 watt Continuum Integrated Amplifier - Man, what an amp!

I am currently using this amplifier in a second system with a pair of extremely power hungry - extremely revealing - Eggleston Andra II speakers and the results are indeed something to write home about.

Let me first state that my "main system" consists of Avalon Eidolons, driven by Spectral electronics and I guess you might say that I am aware of how good stuff should sound - so - when I say that the Rowland Continuum is really excellent - I am basing this statement on 40+ years of listening to good equipment, and even my old, almost worn out ears can hear the difference.

The Rowland Continuum 500 watt integrated amp is GOOD! Probably the best I have ever heard and possibly (almost) the equal of my Spectral separates.

Try it - You'll like it!
mracoustat
74 posts
 
I am the proud owner of the Bow Technologies Wazoo XL and for a 75 watts per channel amplifier it does a very good job on my Acoustat's 1+1s speakers with a very difficult load 82db it is a very well built unit and also very nice.
kops's avatar
kops
478 posts
 
Only music through the latest ViVa Solista mkII, after many auditions and search of Musical integrated this one stole my heart....it's like a real pre/power combo like Krell FBI, but on different sound spectrum, closer to music and more evolving, maybe it's the SET sound which so powerfull.

Definetely one of the very few Ultra integrated amps someone should check among others.
hifisoundguy
630 posts
 
"LUXMAN" L590a mk2 or L550a mk2... CLASS A
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