Luxman 590AX II. This is an end-game product!
Considering an integrated
I’ve been thinking about downsizing my system but am concerned about SQ. I would like to get an all in one integrated (or receiver). New or (slightly) used, tube or SS. It would need a built in phono section (LOMC) and a headphone amp/ jack. I have a budget of maybe up to $10k but would consider going higher if need be. I want to part with everything but my speakers (Zu Def 4), TT and CD player. Obviously I don’t need much power. My concern is mainly the phono section. Sound now is glorious with virtually no ticks or pops. Do you think it’s possible to achieve the same (or better) SQ with a built in phono stage?
Current setup;
Art Audio Carissa (16 wpc)
Art Audio dm- vps
Art Audio Vinyl One
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- 53 posts total
@jeffreyw +1 on Luxman 590 AXII. I have one, it drives anything without breaking a sweat and never getting unruly. Pass Labs INT-60 is another great contender - tube-like but with dynamics and slam like there's no tomorrow. Both options take the speaker specs out of the picture. Low sensitivity, medium sensitivity, high sensitivity, any impedance, whatever -- these two amps will drive anything with aplomb and finesse. Raven Blackhawk or Osprey are also great choices as long as you stick with high sensitivity speakers. If you're going down this path, consider Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III and Quicksilver integrated amps as well. |
Grab a Sugden Signature a21se pure class A. No headphone amp or phono stage, however you can order one with phono. You can add in a headphone amp of your choice, connected to the tape out/fixed out. A bargain at $3250. Then you can save your money and buy more records....as far as a headphone amp goes, I'd highly recommend a Graham slee novo. It's one of the only amps with a daisy chained output. Useful as it allows you to connect something in between the headphone amp and preamp/integrated, such as a tape deck. |
@millercarbon -- Sure I'm comparing my just-declared-obsolete Mytek Brooklyn Bridge's moving coil input with a so-old-they've-discovered-them-in-cave-dwellings Moon LP3 dedicated phono stage, but the Mytek makes the Moon come off as tubby, dead and two-dimensional. Excellent example. Or would be if the OP was using stone knives and bear skins. https://youtu.be/5u-gLR3etLY?t=80 |
- 53 posts total