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Search for miracle integrated

Hello All,

I'm on a search for a very specific type of integrated. I am upgrading my system from the top of the stream down. I go all digital / Lossless quality or higher so the logical start was with the DAC. I just received my Yggdrasil which I absolutely LOVE and feel that I got a much better value than I was expecting (even with all the praise online it met and exceeded my expectations).

My quest continues with the integrated. I am looking for a company that spends very little on marketing and works to move as much of the value for the money to the product itself. Very high value is important to me, I want to get value above the price and I don't want to pay for anything I don't need (such as a built-in DAC as I already have one). The more musical and the higher the clarity the better. My short list is pretty short- the SimAudio Moon 600i and Ayre's integrated.  Some other factors are below. I typically buy new but I'm open to a good value in a used product as well.

Budget (only for the integrated): $8K+/-
Music preference: classical, light rock, pop
End speakers:  It is between Accoustic Zen Crescendo / Vandy Quatros / Wilson Sophias / Revel Salon Ultimas 
Power: 150 WPC+ into 8 ohm

xerotrace
sonicbeauty
324 posts
 
A company that is spending little on marketing but mostly all on product and sound?

I currently own a Norma IPA-140 integrated. Not cheap at around 10K retail ( less of course on the used market).

Go to the website, read all you can on it, it is a very refined and unbelievable jewel for the money, some say it can hold its place compared to twice the price company. The sound is addictive.

I have owned So many integrateds in the past, including some from simaudio /Moon, and that LSA (ex DK amp from China).

The norma is in a higher league in my opinion sound-wise and build quality. And of course its a looker, its Italian...

I think Singer in NY is a dealer for norma.

Cheers!
donjr
1,335 posts
 
"Oh that’s right, audio is not subjective, so since you are sarcastically implying Accuphase is superior, you must be right, lol!"

i'm not, I just don't believe you've heard it with such a bold statement.


oleschool's avatar
oleschool
722 posts
 
Op hasn't posted in weeks we chased him off 
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
donjr1,194 posts11-06-2016 1:29pmi’m not, I just don’t believe you’ve heard it with such a bold statement.
That’s fair enough. Don’t get me wrong, I think the class A Accuphase E-600 is a very nice integrated. Not in the same league as the Vitus SIA-025 as would be expected given the price disparity, but very good. I’m just saying dollar for dollar I think the Wells Audio integrated is better value for money which was a pre-requisite of the OP, as opposed to Accuphase gear which is way over-priced in the US imho.
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greginnh
382 posts
 
donjr - I think Melbguy1, was using the comparison of Japanese prices vs US as the sole reason for his statement. The Wells Audio doesn’t even come close to the Accuphase - I have heard the Wells Audio and E-600 and own an E-470.

Unfortunately, manufacturers like Accuphase and Luxman have been challenged to enter the US market due to the mark-up imposed by their respective distributors. In fact, I am sure that this could be said for most Japanese brands that are imported into the US.

It’s a shame that Accuphase and other brands don’t exhibit or advertise more in the US. Gray market gear has absolutely no value poroposition upon resale so it is really a "pay me now or pay me later" scenario.

OP has so many choices at his price point and many more if he wants to consider used gear. The used gear market is extremely depressed and coupled with the OCD nature of many of us, with a desire to constantly upgrade our gear, a mint-condition, like new integrated could be acquired for 40% or 50% of MSRP.
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