Integrated Tube Amplifier for First Timer?

cayin is the way to go. great sound, excellent construction, top value and very dependable. The other platforms that use the same chassis, do not sound the same as their design is slightly difference. If you have horns, the t50 is more then enough. I own cayin K88, Citation One's and the VAS pre amp. The sound is better then anything ARC builds today. Check out the TAS analogue March issue for a view of the VAS stuff.

In order of preference: (1) Cary Sli-80, (2) Rogue Cronus, (3) CJ CAV-50, (4) the older ARC integrated (not the one in their current line-up)...

Try a used Pathos Classic, great sound, great looks.

I love my Primaluna PL2. Easy to deal with, great sound, can use a variety of tubes, well built. You can find them used for about 1K on Audiogon.

There are so many items that meet this criterion, you owe it to yourself to do a bit of digging. Almost every response you get here or on other forums will necessarily be colored by that respondent's ownership and biased in the direction of such amp.

At this price level there is no real greatness, only "pretty-niceness" at best. I know, I played in that sandbox a long time. Buy used, with the understanding that you will probably outgrow it. Nothing wrong with that, and it is the path most of us who have been in this game any length of time have taken anyway. Assuming you have some funds and some time to do this and not get crazy serious about it, it can be a lot of fun.