2. amps-preamps
  3. 182930-27129

Whole reference system was stolen, need budget friendly integrated. Help Please!

t's a long long story and we are still fighting insurance company over their error in the way they scheduled evertyhing. Our atty says it could be up to a year or more given the amount we are suing. Anyway, I had a pair of Focal Diablo Utopia Evo's paired with a McIntosh C2700 and MC452..... and now I am looking to stay around 5k for speakers and 4k for an integrated amp.,   There are several online stores that alllow returns up to 60 days for exchanges, so I was going to order a pair of the Q Acoustic Concept 50's based on lots of reviews I have read. I do have a pair of Focal Aria 926's at my office that I can use for a while too. 

I  was fortunate enough to have had my main source at a friends house, so I at least still have my Luxman D-03x. I also have a cheap, but shockingly great sounding DAC in the Topping 90se. 

What are some very dynamic integrateds in my budget range I should look at? I say dynamic, because I listen to hard rock from 60's to now and like to be in the fairly loud,  Should I sell the Luxman and get a cheap transport and put that money to grow the integrated budget to 6-7k, or keep the Luxman and look for an integrated that doesn't have on board DACs? 

 

I am so lost, please help!

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjof
celtic66
1,616 posts
 

 

jof's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jof OP
19 posts
 

I know this the amp-preamp board,. but I had an interesting weekend listening to the Q Acoustic Concept 50's. I found myself really enoying them and for the first time in years, I didnt pick apat or anaalyze3 a song's little things and yust laeid back and seriously jammed out. I used the Luxman D-03x as the main sourcew and my older Oppo 103D for my SACD. My local dealer is closing the showroom this week and dioubg a company retreat, so he loaned me their Rotel 1592 Mk2 for the week, 

I thought the Rotel dad a really god job at powering/controlling the 50's and the Aria 926. The one thing that baffled me was streaming. I am using Roon ob my Macbook Pro. Out of the 3 USB DACs, (Rotel, Luxman, and Topping 90se) I thought the Topping was a good bit better. It certaily shocked me. I am going to try it again and make sure everything is level matched. 

 

So, the 1592 mk 2 isnt bad at all. I am going to listen to the Technic SU-G700M2 and the Music Fidelity M6SI. Any other suggestions?

steve59's avatar
steve59
1,672 posts
 

I like the Hegel integrateds, I have an older h360, but heard the h390 drive a pair of Dali epicon 8’s compared to a hifi rose that I don’t know what model, but the Hegel clearly handled the Dali nicely. The dealer had the MF6 i si,idk that he said he preferred over the Hegel but we didn’t compare those. He carries MF and the Hegel was in on trade so make of it what you will. Dali makes some sweet speakers.

More to discover