2. amps-preamps
  3. 164061-3105

Looking for a ‘’No braine’r Integrated amplifier under 7500 or so

hello all!

I’m looking for ideas on a ‘slam dunk’ flexible high value solidly performing INTEGRATED amp for an office system, but one that for a while can be my ‘go to’ or primary unit and is a bit above entry level.

preference is to buy new, but preowned in the right scenario works for me as well.

Pesently I’m starting all over in amassing gear and felt to initiate the project by wading into the water slowly.

I have on hannd remnants of my former   efforts in a then very good line stage preamp and DAC, though the DA age is showing and well behind current popular trends  and support for new formats.

also on hand are some ‘so so’ amps, and several pairs of speakers and I just added a Blue Sound Noede 2I.

ultimately I see nearly everything being replaced but felt starting with a very nice Integrated seems as good a starting point as any.

topology is as such, not too too imoportant. decent power however is key as speakers being paired here are as yet unknown. likelyhood here is a pair of monitors and a sub.

the music playback will likely be streaming from providers and NAS files.

Aesthewtix Mimas has peaked my interest currently. and having owned bAT their INT is interesting too. apart from these two I’m wide open to suggestions on current one box amp solutions..

glass or sand power here makes little difference apart from thereafter mating speakers to the INT power constraints..

your thoughts, and expieriences here are vastly appreciated. THX
blindjim
wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
1,201 posts
 
I like tubes, Here’s something beautiful to look at and has a lifetime warranty. As ebay takes around 13% you have headroom to negotiate (as in call them).

As you will be using monitors and a sub why not KISS. Toss out (sell) all the other stuff.

Get something like a PS Audio Stellar Strata or a Naim all in one


dinov's avatar
dinov
862 posts
 
McIntosh 
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
I know you have several speakers. You need to pick one or two and give the models. I know you have the KEF LS50 Meta. Great speakers. I would pick those. Plus KEF has the new matching sub KC62 for $1500.  With this speaker the lateral and horizontal movement won’t matter due to its design. The new sub is small but supposedly goes to 11hz. We will see. I say the Hegel 390 for $6000. The sub and the amp are $7500 together. The DAC inside the Hegel is awesome. I talked before about keeping our local shops alive. My local Hifi store in the Chicagoland area is 
https://holmaudio.com/  
They have several brands that were talked about above. Later get some good stands with isolation feet to take this system to the next level. 
bteeg
2 posts
 
Mimas is excellent choice. Belles Aria Signature is better and <$
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,973 posts
 
Hey if you have ls 50 metas and a sub, you are good to go for most normal and safe SPLs at least up to 90db or so.

I use the 500w/ch BEl Canto monoblocks with mine, but I do not feel need to go super loud, seldom above 90db, and the Bel Cantos never come anywhere close to breaking a sweat, which is a good thing. ls50s are great but still small and only will go so far loud and clear. But, I do not use an active crossover. ls50s are working full range even with the sub. Add that and let the sub do more work and that (offloading some bass off the ls50s) should take things a good bit even further off any decent number of watts.

With ls50s, you do always need an amp with a lot of juice/current delivery no matter what wattage to drive them to their max in regard to tonal balance, accuracy, detail and all the other usual good things that go along with those.
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