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Integrateds: Why do they all SUCK?

I’m trying to find a HIGH QUALITY integrated that has:
1. A no-corners-cut real class A - A/B power stage.
2. A real, high quality analog preamp line stage.
3. A good phono stage.

Aside from a few very high end products, the above described integrateds seem not to exist. Why can’t I find a quality integrated? Do we just have to accept having a pile of boxes?
madavid0
keithr
1,306 posts
 
The DarTZeel integrated has everything you are looking for and sounds spectacular. My only qualm on the phono stage is with very low LOMC it sounded better with SUT.

In tube land, the new Vac coming out could be the equivalent on the other side.

jafant's avatar
jafant
19,969 posts
 

grantgg -


I like the older Creek models, not very powerful, very musical.

Happy Listening!

95dyna
15 posts
 
Look no further than the Esoteric F-05. I just collapsed my 5 piece bryston 7B SST2’s, BP-26, and Ray Samuels audio F-117 phono stage into this one piece. Did so after auditioning the new bryston 4B 3 and BP 17 Cubed series which are getting rave reviews. The Esoteric F-05 sounded clearly Superior to me on my Focal Sopra2’s and it has a balanced fixed level output which I will use to connect my headphone amp. Not Looking Back.
audio_limits
11 posts
 
Thrax Audio Enyo and Ares integrated amps are true game changers and magical. All in one box units and support streaming and high resolution files. With built in Phono and Dac. They out perform  many seperates costing costing 30 to 60k

ch1
7 posts
 
Ayon Triton integrated, Class A
amazing!
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