Looking for integrated better than my Rogue Sphinx

To Mr M. One of the two Rogue Pharoahs had pre-amp or output stage tubes changed. I believe the the seller is the second owner, and praised the sound improvement, I guess he previously heard the standard version. I am not sure who made the tubes, but I believe they were purchased at Upland Stereo in California. He did not go into details of how the sound was changed.

Some member recommended a similar tube roll for the Sphinx which I never got around to doing. For the record, the Sphinx and Pharaoh use the same phono circuits, and same design of the headphone amp. The remote is the same also. So basically, only increase in power distinguishes the two, though I have been informed that much better parts are used in the Pharoah over the Sphinx As far as those additional inputs and processor loops I could care less

To Soix, see the above; I guess; more power usually is a plus, and could make "X" amount of difference in sound quality. However, even with a healthy resale return on the Sphinx, I would still have to put in about $1100-1400 more from either of the available Pharoahs currently on sale on AG, plus another $70-$100 for shipping I am looking to achieve with more power to get a fuller sound from my current speakers, GET's

7. Another members Dweller, claims he recommended the BAT 300SE integrated several times to me, also suggested to have the cap upgrade done. I don't recall either. Unfortunately, used 300SE's come few and far between, and usually command $3000-3400 at resale Also,I have no idea what the "cap" upgrade would cost, but it will not be cheap. Plus, tube replacements could be expensive.

To Austinbob, the Luxman 505U is a beautiful looking integrated, but I always associated Japanese designed and manufactured electronics as clean, accurate but bright, etched sound, and canned. I am probably wrong, but I have owned a few Luxman amps over the years, however, not expensive ones, Thanks again to all

Check out Luxman. The amps have built in phone stages and headphone amp. Music Direct has a 30 day return policy.

If it's just more power and finesse you seek there is the bigger Rogue Pharoah.

It should be noted that Luxman have been bought out by a Chinese company & manufacturing of all their lines has returned to China. Personally, I don't have much faith in the motivation and skill of a worker who is probably earning $5AUD an hour in a market not known for manufacturing high end audio equipment. What you need to understand is, Chinese companies primarily buy established audio brands to make money, not for the passion of designing and building great audio products.

Sunnyjim: "Which integrated is best" is on this forum at least once-a-month. I've responded (VK-300SE) so many times, I've stopped doing it. I must have been in the mood when I answered your query. The 300SE usually sells in the $2500 range (?). And yes, NOS 6H30 driver tubes go for $300 apiece. I tried replacements from ARC but they ask "which ARC product do you have?". My opinion is that when you don't have an ARC product, they send you their bottom-of-the-barrel offerings (mine failed after 6 months -these usually last 10 years (10,000 hours).
I bit the bullet and bought NOS from BAT -No problems and great sound since.
To me, $3100 for near SOTA sound is cheap.