EL34 Integrated

Besides that you can pick one up cheaply from me, I honestly do have to recommend the Sophia el-34 - it can drive my 90 dB speakers to unlistenable levels, has excellent detail and all the qualities praised in it's little bro - the sophia Baby.

The Ars Sonum is a $4,000 bargain (given how expensive comparable(?) separates would cost, and it is doubtful than any integrated amp can sound better with the Merlins.

Hands down the E.A.R 834 !

The EAR is certainly a nice piece, but it is very unlikely to be as good as the Ars for the Merlins; but an excellent integrated nevertheless.

Pubul57, your enthusiasm for the Ars as the only and best int amp for Merlins has to be admired, but you have not heard the Jadis DA 88 Signature with them (I have) - and how do you know the Ear isn't a match? Anyway, the questioner is talking "bargain", which to me means a lot less than $4K, so to answer Jamesw20, I have owned and heard the Onix and the TAD-60, and there is no comparison - the TAD-60 with EL 34s blows it away, as well as anything else I've heard for $800 used. If one input is enough, it has a volume control and can be used as an int amp; if not, I'd get a Manley Stingray and use it in triode mode or a Cayin. (as Bobgates suggests)