Looking for a SS integrated Amplifier recommendation going into a new system

@soix ,

Thank you for the suggestion, I may not have made it clear on how I am going to use the headphone amp from the lower output Class-A integrated Amp mentioned by others such as Pass Int 25 or Luxman 590AXII.  With these amps, I will be using the speaker outputs instead of headphone output to drive my headphone.  I do use a separate headphone amp, a GS-X mk2, but have been wanting to try Class-A speaker amp for while, and this might be the right time.


The more I think about my setup and possible future path of my system setup, I might end up getting two amps instead of just one.  First, try out a Class-A integrated amp that can drive both my headphone and this speaker system well, and later, getting a Class-AB amp that will match well with the Tower speakers I am waiting for the delivery.

Appreciate all the inputs thus far, they help a lot in my search.

You have to demo any amp with your intended speakers.  It’s difficult with so few remaining brick and mortar retailers left.  I’m not familiar with your speaker, but numbers just don’t work.   I went to demo the luxman in Atlanta and they were running kef blades.  May have been the amp or the speakers,  flat riled off top and bottom.  Back home plan was to bring home the luxman for a demo with my paradigms but the demo had been purchased.  Salesman put together esoteric f03 class a with Fyne 702. Thought esoteric was just digital.  Bought the demo esoteric and and the 702 on the spot.  Due to Covid delays it took 6 months for the Fynes to arrive.  Hooked up the esoteric to my paradigms that have the same resistance and sensitivity as the Fyne and the result was unlistenable as the 30 watt class a could not drive the smallish bass drivers. So two thoughts, have to hear amp speaker combo unless returnable 
The esoteric was in a different league than the luxman, though the entry cost was 40 percent higher
Happy listening 

So..... I actually did an extensive 2 day demo in my home, blind side by side comparison of the Sierra towers with RAAL vs B and W 702 s2. You can see the results at AVS forum. Do a search on Ascend acoustics sierra tower vs 702 s2 and should pop up. In the end, the B and W speakers won the competition and ended up in my home for two years. I have since upgraded to Legacy Audio Focus XD speakers which are in a completely different league. Like you have have category’s of jazz and female vocals on my system so we are definately alike on that. The Sierra towers are wonderful speakers. Of all that I could bring into my home in that price range, they were 1 of 2 on my radar. Bottom line to their biggest weakness in my opinion was base. I suggest a nice pair of Rhythmic subs to compliment the towers and you will be very happy with just about any amp you would want to throw at them. Their strong point where they won out over 702s2 was just flat out rock and roll.... they kick ass but sounds like that is not your gig. Anyway, again, you cant go wrong with the sierra towers. They look pretty cool too.

AYRE AX-5 integrated amp.
Happy Listening!

The Krell K300I....sweet unit.