Best Integrated Amp? Help...

Perhaps of some relevance here - posting from "Maccur" on AVSForum.com

"I don't know about Martin Logans, but I did an in-store comparison between the two about two years ago and went with the Musical Fidelity A5 for my B&W Nautilus 804 two-channel system. The Krell just didn't seem to have the depth and soundstage of the Musical Fidelity and, like most Krells, seemed to emphasize the bass. It's been a great match with the 804s, but it might be totally different with the Martin Logans. The best advice, as always, is to try out the equipment in your home and choose what sounds best to you."

I have always liked the MF A5 a lot.

If separates are a possible track, that would be a whole different ball of wax. Shooting for decent sound, control and power in excess of 100W in a pair of even used separates for under 2 grand is a tall order.

The product that immediately comes to my mind would be a used Odyssey Stratos amplifier with the Cap upgrade for power and possibly an Odyessy Candela tube preamp. This combination could be had for under two grand. It is only 150W but it has tremendous current capacity - which I think is more important for control and dynamics.

Another idea could be finding a Rotel RB 1080 (200W/ch) and RC 1080 preamp used.

Not sure either of these pairings would perform considerably better or even as well as some of the really very good integrated amps recommended above - and they would take up more space.

In general, good luck with this.

I'm thinking that separates only make sense if the OP has a pre or an integrated that can serve as the pre. Then a used stereo amp might be possible.

The fact that he says Rowland didn't work with these tells me he needs more power, plus knowing B&W to a degree. Of course Rowland would have never been in price point, unless it was pretty old.

Dave

Good point about possibility of using existing integrated or pre and loading up downstream with watts and current in a separate box. JI2 originally asked for info about a new integrated - which led me to think they have need/want for both control and power amp in the same box.

This brings up the question of relative importance of power and pre amps to the sound that would eventually emerge from 804's. Perhaps the Rowland had the juice, but not the finesse? Or some kind of impedance matching difficulty? Not trying to argue a point here as much as throw an idea out there for folks to react to. I guess I think both control and power are important to overall sound, but am starting to think Preamp is critical link...

JI2, if you can get a Blue Circle NSCS for under $2K I think you may want to try that and flip it if it doesn't work out - doubt you would lose much in the transaction.

Knownothing, you really like the Blue Circle NSCS. You have been plugging one for a while, are you selling one?
It is pushing the price point for me.
I had a Classe CAP-80 that ran my B&Ws better than the Jeff Rowland Concentra II. I do not think it is a issue of power because the Classe had 80W to the Rowland's 150W. I went to the CAP-151, and then Classe separates. Worked the B&Ws right, until I met BAT. The Rowland just sounded like it was on mute, even at high volume. I do not understand why...
I came off of BAT separates, beautiful pieces. I would opt for the BAT-VK300 integrated, but that is too much $, and I do not have $ to spare right now.
I also need space, so 1 piece is better than 2.
I like the magnum dynalab 308 integrated.
I demoed the Krell KAV300, and did not like the sound [a little dark and cold].
I am worried the 400 would be the same.
Thank you all for your imput.