@larryi ,
Good one! I read good things about Synthesis and I recall them as well during a visit to Deja Vu Audio in Virginia a couple years back. THey usually put on a good show at CAF as I recall. A tube integrated is not out of teh question for me. SOmething different! Just not interested in too big or too expensive at this stage. Trying to keep things smaller and simpler. Accordingly high efficiency/easy load speakers is another avenue I have explored but do not own.