Integrated amp recommendations for harbeth 30.2 XD

@jjss49 

That is a bit unfair. Shaw has talked about why he likes Hegel:

My position on Hegel is abundantly clear. It is the only hifi amp I have ever measured in my lab that has what I consider to be a proper gain structure throughout.

In layman's language that means that with a 'hot' source pumping audio volts into the input channel it is practically impossible to clip or overload the input. That indicates to me a mature, pragmatic real-world approach to the circuit design in a market where far too many amps have input stage clipping evidenced by the ridiculously low setting of the volume control (typically 10 o'clock or lower) at which the output clips. Hence a hard, hard, grainy sound. Indeed, I'd suspect that the extreme sensitivity of the volume control (hardly on, really loud) is prima facie evidence of clipping.

I have been playing P3XD over the last days via one of my H390s and with the volume at about 60/99, I have lots of power reserve and a clean, loud, unclipped sound.

@whipsaw

all good... actions speak louder than words in my view, especially from those who are well versed at marketing :)

all who care can draw their own conclusions, fair or unfair... don’t get me wrong, i really like harbeths, wonderful speakers that sound so true, i have a couple pair... but i think its pretty hilarious about the amps

I own M 30.1's.  I've used an LFD NCSE with the 30.1's - fantastic sound but - no remote.  Sold.  I moved to a Luxman L-507uxii.  Had the Lux for a couple of years, very good with the Harbeth's, not up to the LFD standard but very flexible and nice sound.  Also has a good MC cartridge stage which I need for my system. 

For no good reason (sound familiar?), a few months ago I sold the Lux and bought a Pass INT-25 and supplement with a Sutherland 20/20 phono stage now.  The Pass might be an end game integrated for me.  I was familiar with Pass but from maybe 20 years ago.  The Aleph 3; a fine amp.  Can't remember why I sold that one either.  Damn fine amp.  

In my particular situation, sitting maybe 10 feet from the Harbeths with the Harbeths about 2 feet from the rear wall, the INT-25 is as good an amp as I've experienced.  I listen to lots of acoustic jazz, cello, violin, quartets, piano, classical guitar, lots of live, well recorded music streaming from both vinyl and Qobuz.  It's a special integrated.  

Newton if you like the sound you're getting with the Aethos but want to improve on it the Rega Isis seems like an obvious choice. If not as asked above what are you not liking about your current setup?

NAD M33. It’s got 200 very clean distortion free watts into both 4 and 8 ohms, an amazing neutral sound, comes with Dirac Live room correction, both M/M M/C phono inputs, and BlueOS streaming. Product of the year from a couple of different reviewers. I love mine, drives my 4 ohm speakers easily.  Only $5k.