Integrated Amps - another thread...

Look, I'm knee (neck) deep designing an integrated amp and from what i have heard, an integrated from Rega (not sure if it's the Brio) is quit good at a great price.  So don't move TOO fast.
I like your system overall, at quite a modest cost. I'd likely think first about the DAC (Modi is great for $99, i have one lying around) but not awesome.  The MacBook pro works well for Roon, but a proper server and ethernet independence to a bridge is better - and allows you to buy/build great power supplies to reduce ground noise and its (guessing here) impact on jitter performance due to threshold crossing stuff....
I use an intel NUC/ROCK to a Raspberry Pi to various DACs.  The e Pi  has a custom made LPS.  The NUC i made a fairly good filter for (on the DC side) since it is such a power hog and I didn't want a small table for a regulated LPS. Ok exaggerating, but 4.5A during boot?  really?

Happy to chat offline too.
G

Guys, thanks for the feedback.  Funny enough, one of my friends that has been in the industry for a long time came over.  He hadn’t heard my system since I moved it into my new room.

he’s not so quick on changing the Rega...  first of all, he said, it’s going to take a small fortune to get better sound.  He’s installed many systems at 30K + and, his opinion, I’m getting sound as good as any he installed.  He says, sometimes you just get the right combination of equipment, tweaks, and room...

BTW, he provided me with many of the mechanical isolation pieces as well as help me make my Helix Image cables.

That being said, as we always do... what more can we get by changing something?  It’s the quest, I guess...

I have some Rega dealers, in my area; however, I’m not sure I want to do business with them.  I will not trial something and not buy from them.  I’ve always thought that’s the ethical thing to do.

The Naim integrated interest me as well.  Some of the others do to.  The Quicksilver Integrated interest me as I’ve always been a fan of their products.  BTW, one of the esteemed manufacturers, in the audio space, began using my Quicksilver Monos with 8417 tubes.  They were taken and modified as a test case before the business started.

I know this one is out of left field...  has anybody heard the Marantz Ki-Ruby integrated?

Peachtree makes some nice integrateds and they include very good DACs.  

Vincent's integrateds are very good.  I had the SV-237 and it provided a lot of bang for the buck.  

I haven't owned the Parasound Hint, but have heard one and thought it sounded very good.

I replaced the Vincent with a Simaudio 600i.  I bought mine used and it was a little over your budget, but it's a great piece.  It's in a second system, but I could easily be happy with it as the hub of a main system.  It's more detailed and full bodied than any of the other integrateds I've listened to in this price range.

he’s not so quick on changing the Rega...  first of all, he said, it’s going to take a small fortune to get better sound

yes this was my first reaction as well, as i stated earlier... but the units i recommended will deliver a better overall sound than the rega i believe

I wasn't that impressed with my ADS towers.  I thought the technology was dated because I purchased them in 1980.  The dealer allowed me to trade them in for a DAC.  Maybe I got dupped.

I have a pair of Paradigm Prestige 85F towers and I didn't realize they were 2 1/2 way speakers.  After I purchased them my friend sent me an article Why 3 way are better than 2 1/2 way.  We are no longer friends.  He helped me decide on the speakers I purchased.  I wish these had better tweeters.  I like to hear crisp sound symbols and these don't deliver.  My budget was $4,000 in order to get my wife to agree to buy them and I should have waited and purchased the SALK Song3 Encore's.  I wonder what speakers would be best in the $4,000 to $6,000 range.  However, I would need to get my wife to allow to purchase them.