2. amps-preamps
  3. 166947-100084

Integrated Amp Choices

From numerous visits to audio stores in the BIG city 2 hours south of my place, and after listening to a couple of dozen speakers (up to $18,000) both passive and active. Our simple ears have narrowed it down to these 2 speakers (so far):
KEF R11s - https://us.kef.com/r11.html and Triangle AustraleEZs - https://www.trianglehifi.com/en/produit/hifi-floor-standing-speaker-ez-australe/ These 2 sound the best to both my wife, offer good value and both very close to each other in price.

Here are a few integrated amps (in around the $5K range) that I am considering and I was hoping the community can give their votes to which would compliment the speakers of choice (so far) the best?

https://simaudio.com/en/product/340i-x-integrated-amplifier/

https://www.anthemav.com/products-current/model=str-integrated-amplifier/page=overview

http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=2

https://www.sugdenaudio.com/anv-50-integrated-amplifier

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/MA5300

On Sale Occasionally:

https://bryston.com/amplifiers/b1353/

https://www.marklevinson.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/MARK+LEVINSON+NO+5802.html?dwvar_MARK%20LEVINSON%20NO%205802_color=Black%20%2F%20Silver-US-Current&cgid=integrated-amplifiers

Onboard DAC is a big consideration too, so hoping for your further comments on DAC sections as well.

Prefer new or demo over used.

Thanks,
High-amp





high-amp
high-amp OP
508 posts
 
The other speaker we auditioned, which gets little fan fare here is the Martin Logan 60xti coming in at a lessor $3600 a pair.
https://www.martinlogan.com/en/product/motion-60xti

There was a recent thread that covered something about women having a keen musical ear, this is why I like my wife to accompany me on these demos. She picks out things that I certainly can’t. She is also a ML fan girl, and she felt the 60s had some of the bigger electrostatic attributes but with a much larger sound stage (no head in the vice). I had no trouble listening to them either. Heard the MLS with a McIntosh MA 5300




high-amp OP
508 posts
 
Roger chicagoblue1977
geof3
1,129 posts
 
Second on the SimAudio... also, in that price realm look at a Hegel H190 or H390 about as good as they come in that price realm.
jafant's avatar
jafant
20,054 posts
 
high-amp

Consider an AYRE AX-5 Twenty. Search over.

Happy Listening!
high-amp OP
508 posts
 
geof3, jafant - I have heard good things about both Hegel and AYRE thank you.

I have listened to some of these amps, but I cannot hear them all. I was looking to see which amp would get the most support or votes and work from the top of the list down, hopping to nail the right one, first time around (can you imagine?)

That said, SimAudio is the clear front runner so far. It’s funny, Sim Audio has been around for a long time, but I found 2 dealers recently, when I was on my speaker venture, that are now really pushing their products, like they had just newly discovered them. Good stuff and a proven track record, but I’m sure the US/Canada exchange rate comes into play as well.

I see the Martin Logan 60xti made the front cover of the Spring edition of the Audio Advisor flyer.

Also wanted to mention, the dealer that we demoed the Triangles at was a big time Naim dealer. It seems there are many, many dealers, within close proximity of each other that carry the Naim brand.


More to discover