Help with Integrated Amp Choice

Sorry that I haven't heard the speakers you are purchasing so I can't say how this would match, but if you don't want a bright sounding amp you might want to try a Plinius 8200. Mine is driving Tyler Acoustic Linbrook System 2s and Audio Analogue Paganini CD . I use Signal Cable IC and SC

Thank you all very much for the responses. There are a couple of places in Houston where I could audition some of the amps, but no place with both the amp and the speakers together (grumble). I guess that is the downside of buying used gear, it is kinda hard to do auditions like one would like.

I talked to Dave and The Upgrade Company and he suggested I get the Krell and have him do the upgrade thing. He agreed with some reviewers that the Krell 400xi is a bit bright and "forward" sounding out of the box, but after the upgrade he claimed it would sound far superior to either the NAD or the A5. Based upon the discussion and input from his customers on this forum, I think I believe him.

Funny enough, I like the LOOK of the Krell, but I am supposed to be buying this gear for how it sounds lol... so I guess I need to recalibrate some part of my brain or another.

I've a Blue Circle NSCS integrated unit. I doubt I'll ever replace it. I'm that happy with the NSCS.
There's a reason why so few are available used.

If your looking for musicality more than just muscle i5.3 would be worth a look imho!

I would definitely listen to as many brands as you can. I listened to quite a few and each had their own characteristic sound. As a electrical engineer, I firmly believed for many years that basically all amps were equal. Input in = identical but amplified output. I considered the D/A conversion in the CD player the key element in sound reproduction. It wasn't until I listened to some of the higher-end stuff that I realized how different they all sounded. My quick take is this:
Musical Fidelity - veiled sounding, smooth, unnaturally warm. Remember 30 years ago when some amps and receivers had a "presence" tone control. Well, it's turned all the way up on MF. It's something you could get used to.
Arcam - overly analytical. The Thiel speaker of the amp world. Brain says yes perfect heart says walk away
Levinson - good but neutral - almost no personality at all which I suppose is a good thing. They weren't particulaly compelling.
Ayre - Levinson only more so.
NAD - warm, nice sound, decent for the money - stumbles through difficult passages. I have not heard the M3.
NAIM - best I've heard especially on their higher end stuff Just a gorgeous sound. Plays everthing well. If I had a stereo budget of $60k this is where it would be spent. Their 5i would make a nice bedroom system. :)
Rega - nice warm sound, similar but a little better than NAD.
Rotel - more of a lower-end sound like the big name mass market stuff.
Yamaha - nails on the blackboard since the 90s.
Krell - forward yes, detailed yes. Controls the speaker. Arcam with balls. Fairly smooth and leans slightly toward warm. Very well-built.
Mcintosh - high-end stuff is still very good. Liquid, smooth, detailed. Probably the third best I've heard. Lower-end Mcintosh integrated are harsh on the upper register expecially the MA-6300.
Theta - The second best I've ever heard. Just right in every way. It's difficult to figure out what to buy from them though with all those amps with plug in cards, etc.
Cary - ok does everything very good but nothing fantastic.
Marantz - ok as well. Good all around. Built well. Probably the best Japanese amp.

I'd like to hear a lot of other brands such as SIM, Moon, Bel Canto, Plineus, now that I've been building this library of brand sounds but I've only got so much time and I'm not sure a lot of them are available to hear around here. I'm planning to audition a Rowland soon so I'm looking forward to that.

regards, David