Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.
01-09-06
I have had the opportunity to hear the kw 500, jeff rowland ... S7horton
01-09-06
There's a yba passion integre for sale on the 'gon as we spe ... Warrenh
01-09-06
I used to own the pathos twin towers, it was the best thing ... Chams_uk
01-10-06
Yba passion - solid state - msrp $4,650+ blue circle nscs ... Sugarbrie
01-10-06
You could always get the burmester 032 for $15,000. the mci ... Aball
01-09-06
I have used the aronov audio ls-960i which is well worth con ... Listener57
01-10-06
Vac phi beta integrated Fsarc
01-09-06
The europeans do it better than most. consider gryphon diabl ... Eril
01-10-06: Washline
I was searching this exact question last year. I heard a lot of the amps you mention including the McIntosh 6900, the Krell, the BAT, the Levinson. I've heard the Manley Stingray, Jeff Rowland Concentra, and the Gryphon 2100. I finally settled on the MF Tri-Vista, because I thought it would be the best at driving my JM Lab Alto Utopias. I think all of these amps are superb. I've heard the McIntosh with Kef speakers--top of the line. I heard the BAT with Thiel gear, the Krell with B&W 800 Nautilus, and the Manley and Gryphon with Dynaudio Confidence C1s, C4s and Avant-Guard Unos. I thought the 2300 dollar Manleys outperformed the 7300 dollar Gryphons on most recordings but there were a couple that sounded a bit distorted. The BATs were impressive and had a deep soundstage. But I didn't like the Thiel speakers much. I actually quite liked the McIntosh and Krells. Macs were good all-around amps. The Krells worked quite well with the B&W configuration. They were a bit dry but with my music--electroacoustic--they were highly appropriate. Since I listen to other music besides EA, and since I feel that tubes are superior to solid state, I finally chose the compromise solution of having a tubed pre-stage and solid state power. I'm glad I settled for the hybrid solution. That said, I also heard Pathos gear--both the Logos and the TT, which are both hybrid and I didn't like either. I thought the BAT was superior to both. The MF has given me some well-documented reliability problems but I can't complain at all with the sonics. I hardly ever turn the volume past 9 o'clock. It's a powerful unit and drives the Altos with ease. If i have one regret though it would be not being able to hear these speakers with Jadis amps. I would very much at some point like to hear them with the Orchestra Reference SEs, which probably aren't powerful enough to drive the Altos, but I'd like to try anyway, just for curiosity. Perhaps some day I will replace the MF with Jadis pre and power combo since this is a match that intrigues me, but Jadis gear is expensive and hard to get a hold of used at a decent price, so I may not have an opportunity unless I save up for many years. Otherwise, I'd say that the Tri-Vista and the KW in all likelihood (haven't heard it) are probably the top integrateds--mainly because they are engineered to do so much and have so much power. The two box solution allows for huge transformers to be used. I think the idea of making an integrated in the manner of separate pre and power configurations but combining the circuitry in one box and putting the space hogging power supplies in another is one of the most novel solutions for producing high quality integrated amps. I would like to try the Pathos Classic at some point, and I've yet to have access to a YBA Passion Integre. My general view though is that solid state can't come close to tubes. I've heard some very detailed solid state equipment that has impressed me, but I think tubes breathe more life into the music. I was simply aghast at how well the Manley outdid the Gryphon on that score. Less is often much, much more. Hope this helps.
Washline (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-10-06
The new wavac has it fans though i haven't had the opp to li ... Henryhk
01-10-06
The jadis orchestra reference with kt 90 tubes putting out ~ ... Bbro
01-10-06
sugden masterclass & accuphase e530 are my favorites. aroun ... Jeffjarvis
01-10-06
There are dozens of good ones....sugden, naim, cyrus, revox, ... Jaybo
01-09-06
Just got back from ces/show, this year liked the rcm bonasus ... Cheapmike
01-10-06
I have about 200 hours on my vac phi beta integrated (sells ... Jsaah
01-10-06
Absolute sound claims the asr emitter ii is the best thing ... Rwwear
01-10-06
I own the goldmund integrated and i must say that it is real ... Seldon
01-10-06
It's a bit of an oxymoron, but the 4-piece asr "integra ... Philnyc
01-10-06
The krell kct and any of their cx series of amps are electro ... Stevecham
01-11-06
While we are on the subject of hi end integrateds: julian, ... Warrenh
01-11-06
Audionote's ongaku or vac phi beta. Dennis_the_menace
01-11-06
Jsaah...what speakers are using? interested in the wavac bu ... Henryhk
01-11-06
Btw - at ces, i also saw an integrated from vitus audio (fro ... Philnyc
01-11-06
The most musically satisfying and certainly "high end&q ... Springbok10
01-11-06
Yes, but it is not an integrated. it is a control amp. the ... Cellorover
01-11-06
Let me correct myself. cj introduced it at ces as the ca 200 Cellorover
01-11-06
Gryphon callisto 2100,used,if you can find one ...... Bluebull
01-12-06
I own and love the audio note meishu signature amp, retail s ... Nnicot
01-13-06
Goldmund mim 330...brand new.....$7450....may have one for s ... Majesticgiraffe
01-15-06
Symphonic line kraftquelle. Mezzrow
01-15-06
Try the chord cpm 2600...it sounds as good as it looks... w ... Dgplo
01-17-06
Henryhk: i'm driving genesis 501's with my vac phi beta. pl ... Jsaah
01-17-06
Gryphon diablo, audio analogue new one (don't remember model ... Kops
01-17-06
Trl st-225. Jes45
01-18-06
Classic 16 Gamecock
01-20-06
I was at ces and saw that graaf is introducing a new tube in ... South_park
01-20-06
I am using a t+a v10 on focal jm labs nova utopia be. this i ... Smer319
01-20-06
You may all laugh but the qinpu a 8000 is definately a conte ... Locust19
01-20-06
Have you heard of simaudio's new moon i-7? it's supposed to ... Audio4ever
01-20-06
Forget what the bashers say! there is a highend integrated a ... Sts
01-20-06
Ditto !! i have a mk ii that i am using with a bluenote stib ... Bobf
01-20-06
I have heard good things about the unison unico (though have ... Pardales
01-26-06
The new audio frontiers (italy) 845 set integrated is very i ... Tmhaudio
01-26-06
Absolutely! rogue audio cronus and it will set you back onl ... Stevecham
01-27-06
I think we got just about every integrated out there? close ... Warrenh
01-27-06
Ive just ordered mz jrdg concerto... here is interesting art ... Bxxxb
01-30-06
i have recently heard some very good things about the new g ... Jprice
01-31-06
We are introducing some very high-end set (845) amps from it ... Tmhaudio
01-31-06
Integrated hybrids with tubes in the preamp section and tran ... Ral
02-06-06
Try the edge g3, around 5k...the gamut is around 9-10k.posit ... Mandmdec
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