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Opinions on best integrated under 10k?

Father Christmas has been early and left me a very sizable bonus check!
So time to spend it before the other half can....

Looking at building another system but thinking of just a very high power integrated amp.
Wish list...
200w or more.
Balanced inputs
Digital inputs
Phono inputs

A quick look shows items like McIntosh ma7900 and Mark levinson ml585 which both seem to fulfill all or the majority of my wants.
Sure there are others.
So thoughts and any current or previous owners of suitable candidates please chime in
Thank you in advance
128x128uberwaltz
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Hegel makes good integrateds. Also, according to the Stereophile measurements, Witt is not a very difficult load to drive as compared to other similar size Wilson's. You should try the previously recommended Pass INT-60 for an in-home trial and may be pleasantly surprised. No DAC.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,319 posts
 
By specifying 200W, you exclude a very strong recommendation, the Simaudio 600i.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@uberwaltz  

I can see why you would like a built-in DAC module and having one makes perfect sense.

AND ESPECIALLY since this is for a secondary system.

I would go ahead with the ML 585...it checks off on all of your needs. At some point, I think it is useful (and wise) to let go of the uber critical  pursuit of our choices and just enjoy what we have. 

Happy Holidays.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@twoleftears 
200w is not an imperative, but was part of the "wish list"

@david_ten 

You could be right and that's how my preliminary research narrowed it down to the two main protagonists I mentioned, ml585 and ma7900.

It just may come down to which I get the best deal on for those pair.
BUT I also know I do not know every option out there and always welcome valuable input especially from actual owners or prior owners.
inna
7,355 posts
 
It is better to get Cartier for your wife than spend $10k on average quality audiophile boxes with Chinese parts. You need $22k for Diablo 300 with dac. That dac is upgradeable on-line.
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