2. amps-preamps
  3. 1136848549

Is There any Truly "High End" Integrated Amp?


I'm a reasonably well experienced audio nut and have tried a number of "good" integrated amps. I wonder, though, if there are integrated amps that are good enough for the "best", most revealing speakers. (Think Avalon Eidolon, Verity Parsifal, various JM Lab Utopias, and a variety of other fine speakers that do not have mammoth power requirements.)

People talk about the Levinson, the Musical Fidelity KW-500 and the lesser MF amps, the BAT integrated, The Rowland Concerto, etc. etc. etc.

I would like to hear from people who have actually tried the top tier of integrated amps and would be very interested in learning of their findings.

Don't need to be the most expensive. Could be the YBA Passion, Classe, MacIntosh 6900, Krell 400i, or any of a number of integrated amps that are supposed to sound good.

Hope to hear some good feedback.

Thanks very much.
Ag insider logo xs@2xjprice
david12
1,454 posts
 
I agree with Piedpiper, the Viva Solista is a revelation. Mine is just back from Italy for modifications and it controls and drives my Acoustic Zen Adagios beautifully. No fuzzy tube sound, crisp, clean, dynamic. I also have the Karan K 180, someone else mentioned, for hot weather use. Not as good as the Solista, but it's half the price. If you look on this site, the Solista comes up 2nd hand fairly often, I bought mine on the Gon
solidstate9
17 posts
 
Another vote for Simaudio I-7 it really does qualify high end and integrated. Holographic with real timbre good power too.
piedpiper
753 posts
 
There's actually two Solistas, the MkII at $16.9k and the Lt at $7800.

Another that comes to mind is the affordable Pathos Classic One MkIII.
totemman
6 posts
 
Hi, I really don't know what "truly high end" means but if you are looking for a fast articulate delicate musical integrated amplifier, I would look no further than the Blue Circle BmPH. It replaced a PS Audio preamplifier driving a Spectral Acoustic power amplifier which had replaced a YBA DT. In the BmPH I got the power and punch of the separates with the invitation and elegance of the YBA.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Toteman, I was just about to post on the Blue Circle BMPH when I read your post. Yes, it is fast, refined, crystal clear and ultimately has the ability to open a window to the recording. I like mine very much. It's high end. Frankly, any and I mean any integrated retailing at the $4,000 price point ought to be.
More to discover