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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
 
anotherbob - that M33 has got some pretty rave reviews, but I'm not sure if I am completely ready for a all-in-one box solution. It was even tough for me to go to an integrated amp (ex CSiB). That's why I am quizzing everybody's use of the onboard DACs that come with some of these amps. Maybe if they are upgradeable, that's OK. 
My last music server was just a simple Roon Nucleus, hooked up via USB to my DAC and that's it. I could stream Tidal, search Roon for any music I so desired and could store my ripped CD's on an internal hard drive, al for $1,300. Worked flawlessly, but yes, it didn't have that slick display of the M33.
tom8999
154 posts
 
High amp- here is my two cents - I have been running a Krell K300i in my main system for over a year now - the integrated sounds amazing and pushes my Maggie 1.7i with no issues - will handle your speakers without a problem. I have used Krell integrated amps for over twenty years - they all ran / run great, and when service was needed - Krell was always there to back up the product. My Krell K300 i does not have the internal DAC - for streaming I use LUMIN.

hope this helps - Happy Listening!
high-amp OP
508 posts
 
tom8999 - Thanks, I'm kind of thinking this is the direction I'm heading.
 A K300i in silver with no DAC at demo price...anybody listening?
high-amp OP
508 posts
 
docmrmike - another congratulatory first post! You guys are great!
Also, he got his Krell K300i at $5k and I don't even need the DAC. Hopefully patience will be a virtue here?


blooloo
8 posts
 
Another vote here for the M33.Had mine for several months now and it still blows me away, playing out to a pair of GoldenEar Triton Ones.
It's recently (finally!) been Roon certified and that has just made the icing on the cake for this slick and sleek all-in-one. The BlueOS is a matter of personal taste (I quite liked it - no big issues) but other's mileage may vary there - but with Roon you can by-pass that anyway..it'll love your Roon Nucleus...especially if used with ethernet.
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