Retirement integrated amp for a “fiscal conservative”…..Part 1: I have a plan

My thinking is that perhaps you should consider reposting your impresssions on what you're looking for AFTER AXPONA. Also, for clarification:

1. Not sure if your original post with an $8k budget is just for an integrated amp?
2. Assuming that it is and assuming that you are fully satisfied with your other components, did you find that a particular mfg  impressed you most?
3. There are many good mfgs providing different approaches to equipment (Tubes, class A, class A/B, Class D, hybrids). Is your search for an integrated solution set in stone or would an component preamp and power amp that does not overwhelm your expectation of your space requirements be acceptable?
4. Has your shopping strategy changed after Axpona, meaning that are you still looking for an integrated amp or would shifting your budget, or part thereof, to say, speakers, make more sense? We all love listening to music, usually different genres at different times but as THE Audiophiliac professes, usually multiple pairs of speakers are optimal to satisfying the critical listener, each pair providing a differnet delivery that best suits the listener's choice of music genre.
5. Do you use a DAC? Perhaps the consideration would be to include that in your equation.

Much to think about. I feel that Axpona provides a wealth of exposure, perhaps overwhelming at times, on the best on what's out there. But seriously, the prices are also overwhelming for many.. Yet, the experience provides a better perspective when going into the used market for your shopping, even for the budget shopper. Good luck  and perhaps we'll bump into each other unknowingly!!

@jlopes89 thank you for very thought provoking post!  If Agon’s metrics are accurate, I’m honored that you chose this topic for your 1st post during 7+ years of membership!

To answer your questions, yes my $8K budget is for a plain (no DAC phono pre which I have both). Also, yes I would consider separates, but I suspect I’ll get more musicality (at least what I’m looking for) for the buck with an integrated. But I have an open mind. 
 

I’m happy to share my thoughts after attending AXPONA if folks are interested in them. As I said in my original post in December and again in this one, I’m seeing out and really do appreciate the decades of expertise and variety of thoughts and recommendations from this community. 

Always glad to help another retiree out who has a budget. I do not post because everyone feels they have it "right" and proud of what they have, everyone feels they have made the right choices and make recommendations that are well-intentioned based on their experiences, etc. When you see fairly popular reviewers on youtube getting nasty with their peers, one wonders if it's worthwhile offering their views but I'm sure somewhere in there, there's a profit motive. So............................ here are a couple of more things to consider:

1. Everyone's has an opinion of how their amp sounds - warm, clean, etc. However, what is the function of a preamp and/or power amp? Perhaps you'll agree with me that the answer is to accurate reproduce the source? Assuming your source is an accurate reproduction of original live material for example, shouldn't the best amp and pre-amp's functions be to provide "uncoloured" gain or attenuation.

In the chain of devices, there's already too much potential for coloration (so-called mastered source material, component/renderer, DAC, pre-amp, power amp, and  most important speakers) that makes one wonder which piece of equipment is actually the cause for that pleasing or awful music you're hearing. 

My belief is that if what I am hearing should sound like the live performance of the performer(s), If that, then the combination of equipment I am using is optimal. Yet how many of us have the luxury of that experience to make those comparisons.

Without that luxury, one has to hope that the "source" is accurate (after going through all the digitization/adjustments/etc.) and the components that follow do what they are supposed to do.

2. My recommendation:  I've always purchased what I am fairly certain will not result in an astronomical loss should I become disappointed and have to sell it off. Given your budget, great deals in the used market may cushion some of that when you want to unload it as you may not have to bear the brunt of new equipment depreciation. Alternatively, the shop or mfg you are dealing with has a good return policy.

Perhaps more thoughts later. This is my 2nd post now :).

I highly recommend the McIntosh MA8950 integrated amp. It is beautiful to look at with the iconic blue meters, it’s has fantastic sound, 5 band equalizer so you can adjust for your room or bad recordings, it has the DA2 dac module in the back- if they come out with better dac technology some day you can replace just the module and keep it up to date.  200 solid Watts of power with 3.1DB headroom should be more than enough for most speakers and rooms.  I went from separates (C52 and MC452) to this all in one excellent integrated.  I have a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica Nova 2 speakers connected and the sound is fantastic.  I too have tinitus at 57 yrs old.  This integrated is $9000, but some dealers will take some money off the top or you could go with used. (try Audio Classics) it weighs 75lbs.