2. amps-preamps
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$5000 integrated budget: Please help me choose....

Looking at a very good integrated. I have been in the audio game quite a while, and have bounced around from several speakers. I have just fallen in love with an Opera Callas Divina (full range, 2 way, low impedance down to 4.4 ohm, nominal 6 ohm, 89db/w) and need a nice integrated to go with it. I recently decided to "start over"! Original plan was to purchase a Sonus Faber, but this was similar, for much less money.

I am mainly looking at Integrated solutions at this time. It seems value in this price range is very high, and there are some good ones. Tried matching separates in the past: been there, done that. Tube or solid state is OK, listening preferences are mostly classical, orchestra and chamber, jazz and vocals. Typical music lover stuff. Source will be CDP and the room is fairly big, at 450 square feet. Hard to find anything above a Jolida locally to demo.

Some models under consideration:
Lavardin IT
Karan 180
McIntosh MA2275
Rowland Continuum 250
Jadis (model 60?)
Simaudio I-7 (maybe too thin)?
Cary SLI 80 F1
Conrad Johnson CA-200

I have been running a cheap Jolida tube integrated, but that is a leftover from a previous system, and I would like to step up. I don't need to spend $5000 if I don't have to, but that is my max budget.

Sound wise, the Opera is a bit sweet and smooth, a touch warm (typical Italian sound) and I am looking for a tube amp or hybrid that isn't to "tubey" but rather leans somewhat toward musical and real, but not overly mushy.
komaki
oddmorning
44 posts
 
The Leben cs600 32 watt tube integrated is worth looking at considering your listening preferences.
Detailed and accurate... Also beautiful and original looking.
A very special amp.
mordante
511 posts
 
My advise would be a Symphonic Line RG10mkIV reference. I own a SL La Musica and absolutly love it. It has all the good things of a SS amp lots of bass controll and dynamics but is is not sterile in sound. The RG series is a bit cleaner then the La Musica. Maybe you can find a second hand Kraftwerk.
The SL amps are intergated amps but do have seperate power supplies. In the case of the Kraftwerk even 2 seperate power supplies 1 for the power and 1 for the pre amp. Even is you buy an older model SL you can always have it upgraded to the current specs.
rtilden
156 posts
 
Don't overlook the CODA CSi Limited Edition made in Sacramento, California. First class, high quality build with powerful (220W), dynamic, musical sonics, all with remote control. If interested, run a search on Audiogon for previous reviews/comments. And, you will save somewhere around $800 from your budget.

Good luck!
kiwi_1282001
312 posts
 
01-11-09: Clio09
Heard the new AMR 777 integrated at CES this week. Very nice and features tube preamp section with solid state amp section. Price is around $3500 new.

Its big brother, the AM-77 is also interesting, though i'm not sure whether you could get a second hand one for the 5k budget. I've been listening to lots of different integrateds recently and in the case of the AMR i wrote my thoughts here AMR AM-77 Review

01-13-09: Rtilden
Don't overlook the CODA CSi Limited Edition made in Sacramento, California. First class, high quality build with powerful (220W), dynamic, musical sonics, all with remote control. If interested, run a search on Audiogon for previous reviews/comments. And, you will save somewhere around $800 from your budget.

I have to agree with Ron. The only problem with the CSi Limited is that more people are not aware of it. The company doesn't seem to have much visibility.
f1a
198 posts
 
Kiwi,
Thanks for the link to your excellent and comprehensive review of the AMR. Did you similarly review the Jeff Rowland and Gryphon integrateds, and if so, are they online?

You may also want to audition the Audiomat Opera Reference or Audiomat Recital if seeking that emotional involvement with surprisingly decent bass for an all-tubed topology.
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