Best integrated ever made ?

Below is a link to review of the AA Maestro, I scanned thru it. As with most reviews, they had good things to say about it, but I didn't sense it was going to set the audio world on end. (It's price appears to be a good buy.)

http://www.hifiplus.com/t-rev12-1.html

Just read the review of the AA Maestro in HiFi+ mentioned above by Brian -- certainly a mixed review at best, and maybe even lukewarm. HiFi+ had a recent review (Issue 10) of the Lavardin IS integrated amp, a French product, which the reviewer described in nearly ecstatic terms. The Lavardin sells for considerably less than the Audio Analogue Maestro integrated, although it has less power, but the reviewer concluded the review of the Lavardin by saying: "If one day you are fortunate to hear one, the sheer scale, power, and beauty of its performance will impress itself into your memory, and it will remain there for the rest of your life!" Weighing the rave for the Lavardin against the qualified commentary for the AA Maestro leaves me wanting to see a second opinion on the Maestro.

I'm using a Gryphon Callisto 2200 integrated amplifier. It makes my Dynaudio Confidence 5 fly. You can finde reviews in the Gryphon web place

www.gryphon-audio.dk

Well, having read the Hi Fi+ review, i must say im a bit surprised. They seemed to get a defective unit from the beginning, so thats a bit of bad luck.

As for the rest, well, what can i say : reviewers are a strange breed. I would scan the articles i got over here in France, but as they are in French, no one would understand them :)

Bottom line is you can be the only judge : if you see it, have a listen. You might disagree with HiFi +. I know i do.