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Best used integrated under $5k

Hey guys

Preparing for a move out from our NYC apartment to a house in the suburbs. 
As part of that planning to create dedicated 2 channel space. At the moment using my salk sound speakers with marantz receiver. 
Plan is to get a new TT. Also last year I had done countless hours of auditions and based on that had settled on Wilson Sabrina. Planning to buy them used to save some dough. 
Also planning to buy used integrated. Want to spend < $5000. Short list is
- Hegel 360
- Luxman 509
- ML 585
- Audio Research VSI75
- Naim Supernait 2
- Krell Vanguard

Bunch of these brands are not that easy to find in the used market and you have to wait. 
Would appreciate any inputs on the above and anything else I should be looking at.
marrduk24
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
marrduk24

i am curious to hear what the dealer you mentioned, who carries luxman hegel and sim says about their respective integrated amp offerings

and to the one poster above -- i am sorry but no the hegels do not sound thin at all, if anything they have a bit more body in the midrange than most good ss amps ...

...what the hegels do have is a very very high damping factor, so they can lean out the bass of some underdamped coned speakers that can sound bloated when driven by lesser amps - that can lead one to think the hegel sounds lean/thin driving 'x' speaker...

naims are highly rhythmic but they are actually brighter and a bit more harsh than hegels

yyzsantabarbara
5,017 posts
 
- Hegel 360
- Luxman 509
- ML 585

I have heard these 3 that were asked about. My money would go towards the ML 585. However, that thing is big.

It did sound closer to the $20K ML separates that I also heard witht he same speakers. The Luxman 509x did not sound close to the Luxman 900 series separates (with same speakers), though many people on A’gon think they do.

The Hegel 360 was not as good as the top end Hegel separates on the same speakers.

The ML 585  is close to the top end ML gear and my fav. Second is the Luxman, and the Hegel.

BTW - I recently heard that Harmon is now longer going to make the Revel Salon’s. Makes me wonder what the future is for ML.
ryder
1,734 posts
 
Yyzsantabarbara - did you listen to the 3 amps in the same system with the same speakers? Otherwise the evaluation wouldn't be too useful.
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
Someone made a comment earlier about Hegel sounding thin. Of all the amps I've had, SS or tube, my Hegel has the most body and "meat on the bones" of the bunch. 

The important thing is that he found an amp he likes. 
soix
9,943 posts
 
A tube hybrid like the Pathos Logos or Unison Unico 150 might be worth considering given the characteristics you’re looking for.  There’s a nice used 150 for sale at Upscale Audio for $3400.  Best of luck. 
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