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Best integrated amps under $9k

I am building a new house and I will be having a large great room ( 25x28).  I love music and and I love to hear all the different instruments clearly.  I don't need a heavy bass.  I am also not going to be playing music at real loud levels.   I like wide dispersion speakers.  I have been looking at integrated amps from Krell, Classe, Pass, Macintosh, ATI.  Any advice?  Sound quality is really important to me.   Whatever I buy will last a lifetime.  The reason I am thinking about integrated is that I like the idea of AMP/Pre-Amp in one box.  Any input is appreciated.  

willgolf
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,444 posts
 
Simple really, buy used/demo. There is not much difference in $3K ?
valinar
470 posts
 
It seems to me that the Totem Hawk would be to small for a 25x28 room. With your stated criteria, "sound quality is really important to me", I suggest you first find a speaker that is well matched for your size room. Then find an amp that will work with the speakers.
fliz
66 posts
 
Speakers at 92db/1w/1m that would be a max of 108db or so at 50w/1m

I’m using a 300b set that’s 8wpc with speakers that are 102db so that gets me about 111db.  Previously I was using 2a3 amps that are 3.5wpc and the added power did make a pretty significant difference.

I rarely listen to anything louder than 95db at the listening position though.  Louder than that just hurts.  I couldn’t imagine what I’d do w/ 50wpc

I'm a HUGE fan of extremely high efficiency speakers, but the catch is that they require a gigantic room to shine.  

You seem to have exactly such a room.
fliz
66 posts
 
if WAF isn't a factor....

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t35.0-12/12398773_10154260081256729_2040975578_o.jpg?oh=1171d414ee561e2a9d5eca591efe7725&oe=56748F4C
willgolf OP
933 posts
 
I am now realizing that even though the Totem Hawks sounded awesome in a smaller room, they would not in the large room I described.  So now I am looking at the Raven Reflection MK2 integrated amp with Legacy Focus SE speakers.  Dave the owner of Raven is awesome and extremely helpful.  He is also going to have a range of integrated tube amps from $2500 - $10,000.  Check out Raven Audio.

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