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Best Integrated Amp

I've been on a quest for a long time for the best sounding integrated amp. I've tried everything in my home, The Krell KAV300i, the KAV500i, the Mark Levinson 383, the Musical Fidelity Nuvista integrated amp, The Audio Research CA50, the VTL IT-85 and countless others and I think I finally found just the right one; The Goldmund Mimesis SRI2. This integrated is rated at 125 watts into 8 and 200 watts in 4 with 25 amps of current available. When I was comparing this to the Levinson 383, it blew it out of the water, it was much smoother, MUCH MORE DETAILED and just plan more life sounding, I don't feel that the 383 sounds flat, I think they raised the midbass level to try to make the amp more exciting, however after time its just tiresome to listen to. Another amazing thing is that the Goldmund wasn't any weaker in power then the 383 and it cost considerably less at only $3750. I think I've finally find something I'm going to stick with a while. All the other integrated amps out there had flaws, the Krell KAV500i while more powerful, was dull and lacked soundstaging depth or width, the Audio Research CA50, while a wonderful sounding piece just lacked power with its 45 tube watts and the VTL, just wasn't that good. I honestly think that the Goldmund SRI2 is the best sounding piece of gear I've heard in a long time. If you get the chance you should listen to it for yourself. I was just wondering if anyone had any other ideas about what they thought was the best integrated out there. (BTW this integrated out performed a Levinson 334 and 360s and a Conrad-Johnson Premier 17LS with a Classe CAM350 that I heard last week)
bigcigarman
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
I agree with Trelja in that the Jadis integrateds are the best sounding ones I have heard, although I have not heard the Goldmund, Gryphon or Pathos units. Given your speakers and their power requirements, though, they may not give you quite the power and control of the solid state units, even though they do, as Trelja points out, sound considerably more powerful than their ratings. I am surprised that the Goldmunds did so well with the Maggies, as I've always felt those speakers required a lot of power and current; I guess that says a lot about how well made the Goldmund is.
camadeco
133 posts
 
Seems everyone has decided to ignore the Plinius 8150/8200. I still think this is one of the best sounding and best values in an integrated. Next, everyone ALWAYS ignores the Densen integrateds. Smooth sounding and quite unique design. The Mesa Tigris, while only 35wpc in triode sounds much bigger and is a fun piece because of it's flexiblity. I own a Copland CTA-402 and believe it is the sleeper of the bunch! I would only replace it with the VAC Avatar because like the Copland, has the phono or go back to separates.
mjc
14 posts
 
I agree the Plinius is one of the BEST integrates, I own the 8200 that I am planning to sell because I am upgrading. It is nevertheless very dynamic, detail and just a bit warm. Perfect for my taste.
smwdrtwin
25 posts
 
Bigcigarman:

I too usually look for integrated amps because I think there are some great units out there and the one box saves space. I haven't heard all of the units that you have but I really enjoyed the Musical Fidelity NuVista integrated. With its power supply, it's a two box unit so the space savings is out. What did you think of the NuVista. I reread Fremer's review of the original NuVista amp and then his review of the integrated and I read the reviews by others of the integrated. I think they were all pretty much in agreement about its sonic character, basically smooth, powerful, detailed, and musical. What did you think?
rpogo3
1 posts
 
Has anybody listened to the new Krell 300il? It supposed to be a complete overhaul of the 300i integrated. I've listened to the 300i and love the dynamics but did not like the midrange. I can not find any info on the 300il but Krell says it is their best integrated ever and the midrange is much improved over the 300i. I would like to find an integrated with the dynamics of the krell but with a smooth tube-like midrange.
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