I’ve had a number of different ones. But currently Aestheix Mimas. It ticks all my boxes and more.
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Marantz PM-11s3 Beautiful, powerful Integrated that never ceases to amaze! Makes everything from Yo-Yo Ma to the Dirty Heads sound amazing! It’s fast and detailed, has all the slam and yet has that beautiful KI/Marantz house sound! Sadly it’s was KI’s and Marantz’s last A/B amp... Find one and get it if you can! |
McIntosh MA352 Integrated Amplifier Having said what I have above about my Marantz I was hoping someone might share their experiences and thoughts on the McIntosh MA352? If there are any owners out there? https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/brand/news/MA352-Hi-Fi-World It’s a non-autoformer, hybrid SS/Tube McIntosh integrated amp that has gotten really good reviews, but I’m not sure great sales? I love it’s retro looks! But does it sound as good as it looks? Did it lose its McIntosh house sound, for better or worse, not being an autoformer amp?Anyway it’s a very intriguing Integrated! Hopefully someone can give us their thoughts on it? |
Vinnie Rossi L2iSE..... The 300b's in the preamp section of his design are superb! I have had a few integrated amps, Rogue Audio, and lastly selling my Gryphon Diablo 300. My previous benchmark system was a McIntosh C500t tube preamp with MC501 mono blocks. This sounded excellent and very musical. But a large system, and I have down sized my residence. I wanted a minimalistic system that was very musical. I have PMC ib2i speakers with a Linn Klimax DSM streamer dac, and now with the Vinnie Rossi L2iSE integrated amp. My system sounds so dimensional, musical, and just right. I find it hard to pull myself away from listening sessions! I was not able to achieve the musical synergy I now have, with the Diablo 300 in my system. The Diablo sounded very good, but not the same musical caliber in my opinion. Hence I sold it after a year. The McIntosh two piece tube pre and mono blocks were very close, but I feel the 300b's in the Vinnie Rossi L2iSE give the "extra" ambiance and "musicality" only a large triode like the 300b's can. Highly recommended, and I have not even upgraded the 300b's in the Vinnie Rossi L2iSE to a superb pair of TAKATSUKI TA-300B Triodes or a new issue pair of Western Electric 300b's! |
Hegel H390. I am not bothered by the lack of Roon ready. While the internal DAC is good, my choice is to use an external streamer into a very good DAC (Terminator II), then xlr into the Hegel. Good synergy between the components. I am currently driving Salk HT3 speakers, which can be a bit power-hungry, but the H390 handles them with ease. |
I use a Unison research triode 25 and a Naim 5si. I prefer the tube amp. But the power tube on the tube amp El34s seems to just last a year and then one tube usually blows tripping the internal fuse and send the Unison amp to the shop for $300 in repairs and new tubes. Does any body know whether this is normal. I am very proud of myself for switching to the naim before the tube blows. How long do El34s last. |
I'm using Rega Saturn - R for the last 3 years. I've had many other integrated amps and separates and I prefer the Rega to all of the others I've used. It is very musical, non-fatiguing with great bottom end. Does everything I need, in a relatively small, but heavy, package. I do leave it powered-on 24X7 because it sounds better after hours of warm up. It has a totally adequate MM phono stage, so it took the place of 3 components when I purchased it (pre-amp, power amp, phono stage). |
Hi tomic601 Re the AESTHETIX MIMAS ... I am seriously considering that integrated (my speakers are the newest Vandy 2CE Sig III). I’m considering getting their DAC in it, but I also am intrigued by the Holo Spring 3 and the Denafrips Pontus 2, or maybe the Schitt Yggdrasil. I am especially interested in R2R laddered resistor DACs. How do you like the Aesthetix DAC? How would you rank it compared to DACs in the $2000-3000 range? How would you describe the character of it? THANKS! |
Currently using the Yamaha A-S1200. Mixed bag here. I got it because it was designed like my old amp...dual Mosfet. However after hook up. it made my 42 year old HPM 100's sound like MUD!! Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad DAY! Tone control was no rescue. I hooked my Monitor Audio Silver 8's to the Yamaha A-S1200, They were already good speakers, but man these things were hummimg through this machine. I also hooked up a pair of Energy C3 speakers with just as much pleasure. Because I simply refuse to give up my HPM's that I enjoy everyday...the Yamaha is now up for SALE! Too refined for my old babies! |
Like a couple others here I’ve owned a Bryston B60 for 21 years. It was quite a stretch to buy back then as I was waiting tables. Great little unit but I am tempted to try the new Parasound NewClassic 200 as it seems to have all the right bells and whistles I would love in the Bryston. Anyone tried the Parasound? |
Using a Rogue Audio Corona Mag II for three years now. No intention to change . I have my tube combination. Very good sounding amp when you choose the right tubes for it and what's right for you that is. Room is treated very important, all Wywires throughout. Everything matters. I have had more than a few different amps here nothing moved me. All others were solid state except fo my Pathos Classic MKII I ran for 5 years. Lots of variables and personal tastes. Again, everything matters. After many years at this I believe there is no reason to spend HUGE money being asked now for some products.Also buy used!!! |
Technics SU-G700 (and loving it!) This was kinda a surprise find for me. I was looking for a preamp to replace my Cambridge Audio Azur 851a (paired with the Gustard X26 Pro), but after trying the new Rotel 1590 MK2 I was so disappointed with how it sounded (flat and narrow) that I kinda just gave up on a preamp in the $2,500 range and figured I'd just try something else. I was so impressed with my Azur (with power 851w amp) I wanted to try some different integrated amps in the 2-3k price range and just see what's out there. Tried an open box Yamaha S-2100 and thought it was good, but mainly just a more robust and nicer version of the Azur 851a in all of it's features and sound. It is a beautiful amp though, just gorgeous and tank like. However it didn't really impress me enough (again extremely cool and sounded good) to justify spending 3k to replace my already excellent $1,500 amp. So then came the Technics! I was just kicking around searches and then saw the SU-G700. I loved the "look" of it and then the more I read, the more I was intrigued by it. I ordered it and hooked it up and was really surprised by it. It was so different then the Rotel, Cambridge and Yamaha. It's been said that the SU-G700 is both "neutral" and "nuanced", and I can agree. It's probably neutral on it's own, but paired with an external DAC (my case the X26 Pro) and then layering in DAC filters and the Techniques LAPC tech, this amp has multiple personalities and most of all brings out sounds the likes I've never heard from my music and KEF LS50 Meta's. It is however a total acquired taste of an amp I'm sure. All digital, very processed and clean in it's sound, but all I can say is LAPC tech is very interesting and fun to explore, and does different things to different speakers (and rooms). You can run this amp as a one and done, but throw in the LAPC and an external DAC and now you'll get sound changing results that augment eachother in powers. It's really that drastic! It just had me smiling the more I listened. All I can say is I smile a lot now when I listen to old (and new) music because of the Technics. I can go into more my early personal experiences, but it's really a great looking and sounding integrated amp that rewards you by way of your other source components. |
REGA OSIRIS As the review says: “punching heavy” https://audiofi.net/2012/08/rega-osiris-punching-heavy/ “Dual-Mpno Champ” https://everydayaudiophile.com/2019/12/23/rega-osiris-a-dual-mono-champ/ |
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I cannot say enough about the Mimas, it’s a total sleeper. As far as the integrated DAC it’s a solid inclusion and fits it like a glove sonically. I actually cannot think of anything that competes at this cost point or possibly double. It’s extremely musical and has plenty of go. A great amp and I have had conversations with others who use the phono card with excellent results. Plus if you feel compelled upgrade the pre tubes for even more musicality. Super Integrated. |
I have a PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated, as well as an Octave V70SE. I live in the city so there is a premium on space which prevents me from getting a pre/power separates combination. But I really like integrateds; I’ll probably keep these even when I have a separates combo. I particularly like the PrimaLuna EVO 400 for it’s all-tube headphone amp. |
