looking for an integrated amp in the $1500 range


I need to downsize and will be selling my Aragon 4004 MKII and AVA Fet Valve Hybrid SL Preamplifier with Silver Face Plate and MM Phono.

The rest of system is Burchardt s 400 m1’s, Marantz TT 15s1, Rega M3 MM phono amp, Gustard x16 DAC. Wiim pro streamer. Sounds great mid to high level volume. Lower volume not so much so I want that quality at lower volume if possible. I’m considering Schitt RAGNAROK basic model or Rogue Sphinx 3. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with these or other suggestions. Thanks in advance.

andrake

I'm very pleased with my Rogue Sphinx...Plenty of power, all analog of course. Reasonable price. 

 

I have always adored the sound of my Musical Fidelity A1 (2008) version Class A integrated.  But it does run HOT.

I listen with Reference 3A DeCapo I speakers, 90 db and no crossover, the midwoofer rolls off naturally so just a high pass cap on the tweeter.

If the new $1600 msrp Musical Fidelity A1 sounds as good as my 2008 version, I think you would love it.

 

Probably a step down in a few ways, and you'd be buying an internal DAC and Phono Stage, that you already have, but..

The Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated is a nice class D Integrated.

What makes it great for low-level listening is it's feature-ridden, back-lit, remote. From the remote you can adjust bass, treble and sub levels, turn sub off/on (great for placement testing) and you can return to flat levels at the touch of one button. I've driven B&W 606 s2 Anniversary editions and Kef R30's with great results..at normal and low levels.

Much of my listening is at low level and I've really enjoyed this little integrated. I had separates before and downsizing pushed me to look at Integrated. No regrets! 

They run in the $1,200 to $1,300 range, new.

I totally understand where you are coming from, selling can be a hassle. But the truth is low level listening has much more to do with the speaker, its impedance curve and its sensitivity, then the amplifier’s characteristics. You already have a very beefy amp which is more then capable of driving your speakers, so if that amp doesn’t do it for you at low volumes, a $1,500 integrated will likely be a downgrade. Plus as I mentioned, high sensitivity speakers may cost a bit more up front, but you can easily get away with a lower cost integrated.

True high sensitivity designs tend to be large to compensate for the bass tradeoff, the Heresy is among the smallest that I know of with a true high 90’s sensitivity. Honestly from a floor space perspective it doesn’t take up much more room then a stand mounted speaker. Are you placing these on a cabinet or shelf? If not I’d seriously consider them, they are awesome. Many people actually place them on stands. I’ve even been to a bar that had some old versions wall mounted. The sound was incredible. I have the Forte IV’s myself and they’ll never leave.

Another way to achieve high sensitivity without a huge box is to get rid of the crossover and use a full range driver. Zu Audio has a few designs like this and they do make a bookshelf, though its a rather large bookshelf. Check out the Zu DWX. I have no personal experience with the DWX though. Others may be able to chime in.