nad 370 upgrade


looking to upgrade to a next level integrated...can spend up to $2K. Would prefer ss as opposed to tubes or hybrids. Will be using for mostly vinyl. I have a separate phono stage so i won't need one in the unit. im using paradigm reference studio 20 v2 speakers, a music hall mmf-7 turntable, a grado ph-1 phono stage. my room is fairly small, and i listen to mostly classic older jazz(with acoustic bass), blues, and rock. so far, based on what ive read here and elsewhere, considering creek 5350 se, yba integre dt, arcam 85, musical fidelity 3.2, lfd mistral le, and plinius 8200 mkII. looking for good, realistic bass response, open soundstage, and air. any and all advice very appreciated.
svb4424783
I like the older Musical Fidelity 150 wpc A300(?) integrated. Newer M-F and Arcam is too harsh IMHO, especially if you think Paradigm tweeter is bright but bass is better. Creek may be okay but lacks power. LFD is distorted but you may like - it comes down to preference. YBA is nice, maybe less involving than other amps but very enjoyable.
to be honest..the NAD is probably not the culprit...as good as Paradigm is...I found them to have poor off-axis response (small sweetspot)...Im not trying to be cruel...so please dont crucify me...but for added bass and a more "open" sounding system... new amplification is the last place I would look...dont get me wrong...Paradigm are a great value...but the money spent on a new amp...I would put towards new speakers...
interesting...almost everyone i've heard from here and other places have pointed to the nad as the weak spot.

what bookshelf speakers would you suggest?
I have Quad 12LS and am flabbergasted at the level of detail,transparency,soundstaging,dynamics, and bass...they have a very "open" presentation...with a "sweet spot" that simply fills the room...I am also using NAD amplification and have not experienced any of the issues mentioned above...NAD might not have the esoteric name or garnish the best looking amp category...but their amps are their "bread n butter" so to say...the only change I would consider would be tubes...just for the record...I auditioned the Studio 20...and many others...including Spendor,Sonus Faber,Revel,etc...the Quads are a steal...
You could try bi-amping by adding the C-270, as I did with my system. I'm quite pleased with the result, more detail, clarity and air throughout the frequency spectrum. However, I have Kef Q5 floostanders (with the C-370 driving the upper/mids and the C-270 driving the bass).

If you decide to change your speakers, the new XQ1 from Kef is a bookshelf model that got a rave review and beat out five other models in the April 2003 edition of Hi-Fi World.