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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
uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
A Diablo 300 is on the Agon right now, located in Singapore, a 220v version and priced where I would expect at 12.5 k not in the 7 to 8k range.
Course if it ever sells at that price in todays market is entirely another matter indeed!
Plus a decent step up transformer is required.
joey54
435 posts
 
uberwaltz, sounds like you are done for now but when, or if you get the upgrade bug again be sure to check out the new Ayre EX-8. It has a great built-in DAC and headphone amp and seems to meet most of your initial criteria. I too own the AX-7e along with an Ayre Codex DAC and the EX-8 sounds much better in my system. The AX-7e is no slouch and in combination with the Codex sounds really good. YMMV of course but in my system it is a dramatic improvement. Good Luck!
inna
7,923 posts
 
Some crazy Japanese audiophiles use two transformers to change voltage up and down and claim it sounds better. Acupwr.com transformers look good to me. No, he probably won't sell it to the US for $12.5k, $10k maybe.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Joey54.



Finally found one at a very fair price.

Ayre EX-8 fully pimped out including dac and streaming boards.

On its way to me now, here Friday.

Its going to be great a weekend!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
If all pans out as I hope I am going to be happy indeed.
Funny world as I so nearly pulled the trigger on a Boulder 865 over the weekend but decided its feature set was just as spartan as the ax7e.
This should allow me to replace an amp, dac, streamer and headphone amp with just one box, one HIGH quality box.
Lots more room on the rack, lots less cables and power cords.

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