Is There any Truly "High End" Integrated Amp?

I'd say yes. I have been auditioning high end integrated amps for some time now, and like the rest of us, have been looking for one with the perfect balance of detail & warmth.

These the most interesting I have heard thus far:

McIntosh MA2275 (tube) - A truly balanced sound - I can understand why they charge so much, as you'll have no need for separates. A great combination of tube flavor with a detailed solid state leaning. Easy to listen to for hours, and it can handle a variety of musical genres. Best all around integrated amp I have heard so far.

Simaudio I-5 (solid state) - Detailed without the ear surgery edge - used ones are an incredible value - an all-around great performer. A bit mellow on the bass/impact side, although the new I-5.3 is supposedly going to address this.

Marantz PM-11S1 (solid state) - This is a really interesting integrated amp from their Reference series, and I'm surprised it hasn't received more attention in the press. Laid back, tightly detailed, but insanely musical with the right recordings.

I have also auditioned Krell, Manley, PrimaLuna, Pathos, Arcam, Musical Fidelity and others - and have a few more to go (Unico, Ayre, etc.). All are excellent in their own right, but these three really stood out.

Bwright: I'd like to hear your feedback on the new Master Series integrated from NAD: NAD M3

I use the Cary 300SEI BLX although heavily modified. check it out by clicking on my "system".

Someone already mentioned the excellent GamuT DI-150---very nice and quite expensive.

Another really good integrated is the Linar 10--and not nearly as expensive as the DI-150. It is a 5.1 channel integrated that can be switched into four channels into two-channel stereo for the easiest bi-amping I know. (It’s a matter of connecting speaker cables appropriately and hitting a switch on the remote.) I heard this unit (at a friend’s house) played as a normal stereo amp and liked it a lot, then heard it in 4 x 2 stereo, bi-amp’ed, and it blew my sox off. Four channels of clean, 125 watts (each) in stereo mode really sang.

Linar gear sounds clear, open, extended, musical, and controlled. The frequency extension is the first thing I noticed: lows go quite low and the highs seem to just go on and on. It is on my short list if I want to down size.

I bought a GamuT DI-150 and it was a wonderful sounding integrated amplifier. It was also beautiful to look at - - - Probably the best looking piece of audio gear I've ever seen.

My only problem with the Gamut was the fact that it didn't have a balance control. In the room where the integrated is to be used, a balance control is quite valuable and somewhat necessary.

This is also a problem with the wide variety of Musical Fidelity integrated amps - no balance control.

I sold the GamuT and bought a Rowland Concerto integrated. Sounds just about as good (I think it sounds every bit as good) and it does have my precious balance control. I guess the only problem with the Rowland is that it doesn't begin to look as good as the GamuT. Oh Well. . . . .