Recommend an integrated amp for my Harbeth 40.1's

Naim. Their newer stuff allows for more cabling flexibility.

The Naim range is a good suggestion, but they can be very expensive once you get into their upgrade path. Pick up an Arcam A38 and your search is over. Great integrated, current model, well supported - and there are some decent deals around. E-mail if you have any questions. Not a dealer, just a satisfied Arcam owner.

With the 40.1's you do need a fair bit of power to control the 12" woofer despite claims on the easy load of the Harbeth, especially if one listens at moderate to high volume levels. I believe the choice of going with either Luxman, Accuphase or Naim is dependent on the listener's preference. All of them are good solid units built to a high level, especially the Luxman and Accuphase.

If choosing the Naim, you have only one choice, that is the Supernait which is the most powerful integrated available. As Lindisfarne has mentioned, the new Naim amps have more flexibility in the provision of RCA phono inputs, hence you can hook up your CD player to the amp using your existing interconnects. There is no balanced though.

As Egoss has aptly pointed out, going up the Naim ladder is a costly affair. Having said that a Harbeth C7ES3 user located in Minneapolis MN is using Naim NAC252/250/Supercap to drive his speakers. Arcam is great but I don't think the integrateds have the juice to power the 40.1's. Also, the Arcam's house sound is a little sterile and clean which is the opposite of Naim's lively with a lot of PRaT and boogie factor. Both sound pretty different.

Although I have not listened to both Accuphase and Luxman, I wager both will sound smoother than the Naim with a more liquid top end and texture in the mids. However, they won't have the PRaT and toe-tapping factor of the Naim especially when it comes to rock music. An SHL5 user "Denjo" used to own an Accuphase E450 but switched to the Naim Uniti as he prefers the PRaT qualities of the Naim more. The Accuphase and Luxman will probably/most likely sound closer to your Aesthetix Calpyso/Mcintosh MC275MkV combination though.

How about an Odyssey Audio Cyclops integrated? It puts out 110wpc and 40 amps peak. That should control your Harbeth speakers quite well. They sell it on their web site for 995 and you can get a souped up version for a little more. They also come with a 20 year warranty.

I am a VERY satisified owner of their Stratos stereo Extreme amp and Kismet Reference speakers.

Bob