High End Intergraded comparisons, Marantz, McIntosh, Levinson, Luxman....

I own the Hegel H390 and do love it, however I can’t say it’s perfect. It gives me probably 93% of what I’m looking for, specific I know. I wasn’t able to demo it against much, only the Michi X3 and for me it was better sounding. It has a very smooth sound, one that isn’t fatiguing and I can listen to it for hours straight. I listen to a wide range of music, and the only thing it lacks for me is energy during drum and bass or heavy metal. The smooth side of it seems to lose that 7% extra I’m looking for. Now I listen to loads of electronic music, and for everything else it is incredible, so it’s not a problem with electronic music, it’s that it doesn’t seem to do aggression well, that grab you by the neck punch you in the face. For all other music types I don’t want that, and it delivers vocals, instruments, and everything else with a muscular ease while remaining utterly balanced. I don’t know if my speakers are contributing to this (Spendor D7.2), or the room etc, but in my system this is what I have found. Therefore if you are after that massive slam, I’m not sure I can recommend the Hegel, but it does everything else wonderfully.

If anyone has a different experience I’d love to hear what speakers you use, Spendor are British and are known to be polite which is why it may not be the amp. Why the whole system setup is important, not one component!

Marantz makes some nice stuff. I own the pm14s1 and I think it sounds fantastic, similar to what you described in reference to the pm10. Although I am now running a Sugden A21se signature class A, I am hanging on to my pm14s1. Besides, they no longer make it, which is sad, as I don't really like the currently available Marantz products (looks wise), except for maybe the ruby. 

I have the Hegel H390 powering KEF Reference 5’s and get more than enough slam on most tunes and for those that I more, I have a subwoofer. But honestly, I rarely use it.

All the best.

@steviet,  Thank you for this post.  The subject matter interests me as I am a bit of a tube head, but I bought the Ruby (both integrated and DAC/SACD) on sale from Music Direct--just had to try Ken Ishiwat's final piece, which he said was his greatest accomplishment. The Ruby is nearly outstanding.  

So your post that upgrading in the Marantz line to the flagship is influential to me. If you think it's a big step up from the Ruby I'd like to hear it.  Instantly my mind thinks, I could trade the Ruby (both amp and CD/DAC) back into MD for your Marantz and just use my tube DAC with it. 

@bikesandguitars , Interesting!  I too have a Chinook and I honestly could give it up for the phono in the Ruby.  I've gone back and forth a couple of times between them, critically listening (or trying to!) for differences.  They do have sound differences, but just as you say I could use the Ruby and be quite happy--not feeling I'm giving anything up. That's pretty great. 

More examples and options: in the  "High End" Integrateds thread by member @keithr