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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.
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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.
mike60
275 posts
 
Gamut DI150 - You have to hear it to believe how good it is.
hifisoundguy
630 posts
 
I went and listened to the all new Krell s300i $2,500 and I think its one of the best under $10,000!
flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
I have had quite a few integrateds, currently getting great results with an Acoustic Plan Sitar that replaced an Audio Note Meishu (also a great SET option).

The Gryphon line is great (I owned a Tabu, Century and a Callisto) and a Jadis DA60 Signature for those out there that like tubes (I had it for almost a year and also a terrific amp)

Cheers,
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