best integrated amp.

jmcgrogan25,351 posts05-01-2016 12:05amWell the title of your thread is best integrated amp. I'll say the best I've heard is my VAC 160iSE, but maybe a bit out of your price range. A VAC 160i may not be though. However, I don't think the VAC would be the best to drive your Maggies though.

There is a used Boulder 865 for sale right now in your price range that should do the trick. You may also be able to find a used Vitus RI-100.
If looking new, check out a Wells Audio Majestic, very good bang for the buck. You might also find a new BAT VK-3000SE within your budget.

Happy hunting!

The Vitus RI-100 & Boulder 865 are all solid choices if looking 2nd hand. Note: The Vitus is a bit dark sounding, whilst the Boulder is natural and dead neutral. If buying new, my first choice would be a Unison Unico 150 hybridamplifier (approx $6000US). The Unico is beautifully made & uses pure class A double triode Input and driver stages + a single Mosfet power stage, and has zero NFB. Second choice with the Maggies would be the Modwright KWI-200 ($5500US). followed by the Wells Audio Majestic (also in the musical camp, $3500US) and new Hegel H360 ($5700US). The Hegal also has a good dac & can act as a streamer fyi. Have fun with your auditions!

IK2,
How does the VPI compare with the PrimaLuna?

Hegel is very nice. I understand dave_b's statement, although my experience is that as you go up the line, you get more midbass. The H80 is lovely, but light in the midbass. the reviews say there's not any frequency that 'stands out' (meaning it's neutral), but it is also not as dynamic in the midbass, which will influence the sound of orchestral music. Most pop music with 'thud away' merrily - and with pitch - with the user being none the wiser.
The bigger Hegel, the 360, is reputed to have none of these problems.
Parasound was good, but it's only $2450 and not as classy as Hegel. I'd suggest listening to Rowland (does he have anything for only 5k?? I mean, he used to, but now?!?) or Audio Research.
Also, it really does matter what kind of music you listen to. With classical and voice, you're going to want delicacy (as in the slightest demo-quaver that can break your heart), whereas with jazz you can be just slightly less concerned with that (except for vocalists, again). 
What is the majority of your music? Vinyl? Digital? Country? Rock?

I wanted to pipe in here as somebody said forget tubes, and that may be a mistake.  A tube amp can have incredible slam, and at the same time really emphasize what Maggie's do best. Breathe.  But it's not just a matter of power, it's bandwidth of the output transformers as well as output impedance.  

That's why Stereophile Editor in Chief John Atkinson won't write speaker reviews with tube amps.  They measure like crap and will color the sound in direct proportion of the speaker's impedance curve.  

Atkinson recently reviewed the $25K YG Acoustics Carmel 2.  A difficult speaker to drive.  He tried amps including 400 watts Parasound Halo's, $24K 280 watt MBL Coronas, and Pass Labs XA60.5 monos and didn't get the bottom end he wanted.  

He was doing measurements on the $4399 PrimaLuna HP integrated for somebody else's review and was surprised by what he saw.  Bandwidth and output impedance numbers so impressive he decided to hook it up and try it.  In triode mode which is only 36 watts!!  You should read what he says.  

Tubes are fab with Maggies, if you get the right amp.  

http://primaluna-usa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218