2. amps-preamps
  3. 1136848549

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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semi
649 posts
 
Jprice, if you like the Rowland so much, why are you selling it already?

since you also own Guarneri Memento, you should give BAT SE tube amp a try.
bmckenney
91 posts
 
Not sure if anyone has mentioned the LSA integrated amps in this thread or not. MDW of Bound For Sound gave the Signature version an unofficial component of the year award a couple of years back. MDW has listened to a lot of integrated amps and of course separates. I could quote him as saying it was finally the first integrated amp that doesn't give up anything to separates (expensive ones). I have his review amp, and I am very impressed with it.

I can just imagine there are many true high end integrated amps out there these days. Take any one of them, put them in the right synergy and technically matched system that matches a persons preferences and a good room, and it should satisfy the most discriminating audiophile.

Frankly, I don't really care if its separates or an integrated, as long as it sounds great. I didn't get my LSA because i was looking of an integrated. I got it because I know it had good synergy with my speakers.
deadlyvj
66 posts
 
I'm lurking around for a true high end integrated, ended up narrowing my search to the following:

Burmester 032
http://www.burmester.de/en/produkte/index.php?product=1,2,10

Vac Alpha
http://www.vac-amps.com/homepage.htm

Demidorff Diamond series
http://www.goldenote.it//product.php/idp=36/id=2

While there was a recent review of the 032, there is little info regarding the other 2. Anyone with additional experience?
flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
Intrigued of your final component list Deadlyvj, were the Jadis/Boulder/Rowland or Gryphon not suitable for your option list criteria?

I have read great things on the Vac Alpha (but never heard it) as well as for the Burmester (but courious to learn why Burmester owners sell their gear so fast...).

As for the Demidorff, not heard it nor read about it before.
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
With the obvious conflict of interest here, I would recommend the LSA Statement at about $11K. I've had virtually everything in my listening room, from Krell to cj, to Jadis to Halcro.
For my musical sensibilities, I've found nothing more musically satisfying. But then we're talking Opus 1 to Silver Oaks or some such.
So many are good to great to wonderful. We all hear various aspects of recordings with differing appreciations. "Which is more dynamic?" "Which is more delicate?" "Which treats strings most accurately, percussion, male vocals, female vocals?"
The interface between speaker and amp is so important as to render many of the differences miniscule.
If you like it--it's good until the Audio Fairy blesses you with more money to restart the search for that Holy Grail. At least you all love music--the greatest gift of all.

Larry
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