Integrated Amp Bargains with good balanced sound?

Here is an update:
I got Music Hall 25.2 Amp and small Yamaha bookshelf speakers (for now while I am looking for real speakers)).
I swapped speakers for fun and was faced with a very rude awakening. My S. F. Concertino Home speakers are peace of horse manure. They sound like two plastic buckets wrapped in leather and mahogany. Bassy, boomy, bloomy and rolled off on tops. Nothing except bass guitar and drums sounds natural on them.

I also bought (stole) Audio Refinement Complete on ebay and going to compare it to Music Hall integrated.
I hope to end up with some nice gear at the end : something like ATC SCM20 speakers and Krell 300 or Musical Fidelity 300 or YBA Passion since these three are easiest to try and re-sell.

Dkzzzz,

I've read with interest your search for a budget integrated.

I had YBA YA 201 amp (the replacement for the AR Complete) and it is fabulous, contrary to posters who never owned one. Its only weakness is a display that is hard to read in a bright room.

I since sold it for financial reasons (mortgage payment) and bought an Audio Analogue Primo integrated, made in Italy. Another sleeper...very dynamic, but not quite as refined as the YBA 201. I reluctantly sold the AA as a package with my cdp that was for sale (sold the cdp for another mortgage payment...endless cycle). So I'm on the hunt for another budget integrated amp.

I would like your opinion on the MH 25.2 vs. the AA Complete. I'm in the market again and the MHall 25.2's are very plentiful, but I suspect not as good as YBA or AA...but I'm only guessing. I'd like your impressions on the the 2 amps you own.

I nominate the Cambridge Audio 640a v2. Available at Audio Advisor and a few other places new with warranty for $599. Comes with very cool-looking remote. 75 wpc. These things are so fast and transparent, I think they'd be worth it as a line stage alone. As it is, the power sections are equally fast and extended, and have enough current to have a healthy FTC 4-ohm rating as well.

If you spin vinyl, their matching outboard 640P phono stage is also an overachiever. In fact, it's so good that it's launched me on an upgrade quest (speakers, amplification, speaker cable).

I tried CA 840 V2, the latest iteration of their top of the line amp. It was not only not impressive it was downgrade in comparison to Music Hall 25.2 which sells for approx 5 times less than Cambridge.
With Cambridge Audio consumer receives a funky remotes, cool looking knobs , LCD screenies with clickety special effects, and other great fun things.
However the sound it makes is analogous to a car FM radio.
But it is cool and weights a ton ,so it must be great.
On-board Phono stage is a waste of money and time. They are usual afterthought in majority of amps.

07-08-08: Dkzzzz
I tried CA 840 V2, the latest iteration of their top of the line amp. It was not only not impressive it was downgrade in comparison to Music Hall 25.2 which sells for approx 5 times less than Cambridge.
With Cambridge Audio consumer receives a funky remotes, cool looking knobs , LCD screenies with clickety special effects, and other great fun things.
However the sound it makes is analogous to a car FM radio.
But it is cool and weights a ton ,so it must be great.
On-board Phono stage is a waste of money and time. They are usual afterthought in majority of amps.

I didn't realize you'd already bought the Music Hall when I suggested the Cambridge Audio 640A, which, incidentally is exactly the same price as the Music Hall.

If you were shopping for a budget integrated, why did you look at the $1500 840A?--Which, incidentally, is not a v2 because it just came out, weighs 33 lbs. and not a ton, and has no built-in phono stage. Even its remote is very similar to the MH 25.2's except for the navigation circle in the middle, and that's because it also works on Cambridge's Azur line of CD and DVD players.

Also, the Cambridges take some time to break in, and are bright and edgy sounding until they do.

The other thing, don't sell your Concertinos just yet. The bad sound you're getting may just be an amp/speaker mismatch. I've heard really good speakers sound just as you describe when matched with an amp that doesn't have enough current delivery for the speaker's demands.