best tube integrated under $5000 ?

Aranov 961i $3,600

arc vs55 , cj ca50, arc ca50. great units built to last a lifetime. the ARC has an awesome matching CD player too.

Twl- You are dead on about the ZH-270, with one exception that may be important to Mike. It has two line level inputs, switchable on the front panel. It is an absolutely outstanding amplifier. If you use CD and phono, get a great outboard phono stage and your good to go. If you use CD and FM, all set as is. If you add other sources, you can always jack the output of the pre into one of the inputs, like I do.

Swamp... have you compared the berning with and without a pre using the same source, and if yes, how did the two compare?

Try the Pathos Logos. Great looks and killer sound.