Integrated amp recommendation

I’d step up to a used Naim XS2, about $1700, or a restored tube integrated Fisher or Scott for about $1,000+.  

wow. did we need a separate post for it? 

@grislybutter

many ways to enjoy this pursuit... none right or wrong... so long as the passion, curiosity and will are there, and the wallet obliges

life is a journey, hopefully one filled with wonderful experiences ...

@jjss49 

#1 "35-40 dacs in 3 years..."

#2 "ended up buying all 3 of my choices"

#3 "150 cartridges"

... it's a never ending list

"ended up buying all 3 of my choices"

must be the craziest thing I read here so far. I am sure it won’t stand for long.

kudos to the person who did this -- well, this is basically what i do... albeit carefully and patiently buying used pieces -- there is no substitute for first hand experience of how some component will sound like, and work, in one’s system

this is how i tried some 35-40 dacs in 3 years...

"ended up buying all 3 of my choices"

must be the craziest thing I read here so far. I am sure it won't stand for long.

I don’t think there were any bad choices mentioned. Other than power requirements, equipment is so subjective. I had a hard time deciding on an integrated, and ended up buying all 3 of my choices. It was just too hard to decide. I ended up with a Pass 250,Mac 352 hybrid and a Hegal 390. All 3 sound wonderful, just different presentation. Hope you come back and tell how you like the Musical Fidelity. 

phil59

Nice choice. Keep me posted as you massage the MF M6i into your room and system.

Happy Listening!

I bought a Musical Fidelity M6i today. Thank you to all for your insights and recommendations!

Many good recommendations have been made. Just a note… since your speakers are 89db efficient with a reported 4 ohms impedance, the output impedance (or damping factor) of your amplifier is important.  The lower the output impedance (or, the higher the damping factor), the better-sounding combination with your speakers it likely will be.  Have fun. 

You should be able to find a used CREEK EVO 100A for ~$1000 (or less). I used one with Joseph RM25XL speakers and now with the "bit power hungry" Magnepan LRS+. The amp/speaker combo is great with either combination. Some reviews follow.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/creek-evolution-100a

http://www.hifi-review.net/37-creek-evolution-100a.html

https://www.stereophile.com/content/creek-evolution-100a-integrated-amplifier

https://www.hifipig.com/creek-evolution-100cd-cd-player-and-100p-power-amp/

(the power amp is also what you get in the integrated version)

https://www.hifipig.com/thats-all-folks/

(photo of Creek 100A driving a set of Harbeths)

Stanleylocke,

Could be either hybrid or solid state. Right now, the focus is on ensuring that the amp has enough power for the speakers. Thanks.

Consider the Peachtree nova 150. The price is $999 at present.

take a look at the NewClassic 200 Integrated

https://parasound.com/200_Integrated.php

Marantz pm7000 ... it's in your budget range, excellent reviews, easy to use

Save some money, buy a Willsenton R8 tube integrated. It’s well tested on the audio market. Great KT88 tube amp that will drive your speakers with ease. Check YouTube for the Willsenton R8 and thank me later. Amazon carries them, in black or silver and black. Best tube integrated under $1500 bar none. 

Only $899 retail

In your situation recently. I got the Yamaha s801. 100 watts into 8 ohms my, 200 watts into 4 ohms. Confirmed by a third party website. The author also noted that its overall performance was excellent. Includes a dac and a phone stage.  You can get it with a 30 or 60 day trial from one major online dealer or another.

Thank you, dcyyz, for your response. Helpful and supportive. I'm moving along, spending way too much time exploring the (for me) unknowable.

@phil59 - some good suggestions made here, but I'm with you on the 'stick to budget' approach. Especially buying used as you can turn things over and try different things to make that budget work for you before stretching it. Also stay focused on the character you're after - you noted warm for a modest room, and not all the suggestions go along with that. What's 'best' for one room and speaker may not be for yours, and reviews can help figure out prospects and eliminate others.

You asked about buying vintage used and I don't know if you got a response. Audiogon, US Audio Mart (and Canuck Audio Mart, too, as others mentioned the $ makes it worth it if you're in the US) and a handful of other sites rank sellers and provide feedback that can increase confidence. 

Buying used and buying vintage are different things, too. People will swear by 70s-80s stuff, but a lot can change in a device over 40 years, so buying used items built in the past 10-20 years by brands known to last is a generally safe bet.

Re suggestions around a DAC. In your price point, the Node DAC delivers nicely. I've tried a few DACs with my Node 2i and only one was truly 'better' across the board, the Denafrips Ares ii, but only just a bit better given my modest amps, so the jury is still out on whether the value is there, given it cost almost double the price of the Node itself.

Probably not a lot of people here have heard a Piega. I demoed one twice and it was really fast because of the ribbon mid. It looked pretty much like the one you have but had I think 1 more woofer/mid. It also had very little warmth or body. I would be looking for something with a darkish extra mid bass quality to it. Sorry I don’t really have a suggestion at 1k. Maybe an Nad? Not sure how they would do with tubes but could look at a tube integrated if it was a fit. Cayin and Jolida make some that would be in that price range used and I’m sure some others. 

Used for $1500 you can go higher up the Rega line to a Elex-r or Elicit-r. Highly recommend both. 

I think someone mentioned the Plinius I owned an 8200 , 8200mkll, 9200apl sound powerful and musical 

Selling my Belles Aria . Moving to separates.

It has not been stated by the author if the preference is tubes or SS. For a tube integrated <$1k, Jolida 502BRC. In SS <$1k, NAD C 375BEE, C368. Parasound New Classic 200. Creek Evolution 5350. Music Hall Mambo and many other listed on US Audiomart.

I used to have a Rega Brio and changed to Schiit Ragnarok. It was a night-and-day difference to the better. I suggest you either try to find a used Ragnarok with a dac or buy a new one without dac. I would guess that the dac card is better than the Node and worth the money but it pushes the price north of $1500. On the other hand it will be easier to sell some other day if you want to.

A used Ayre could also be a great choice. 

Freya + and vidar 

In the last year I’ve had the Ayer Ax7e, top notch sound but just didn’t have the balls I was looking for, switched to Belles Aria….problem solved and a decent headphone section to boot. However that YBA Audio Refinement Complete is just an incredible integrated for the price. Good luck.

Of the most frequently recommended integrateds in this thread, several are above the $1,500 price point (up from $1,000), such as Plinius, Parasound, Belles Aria and Musical Fidelity. Of the others that meet the robust power requirement, Rogue Sphinx and Ayre AX7e are doable. This is my entry into higher-quality equipment, so I would prefer to start the so-called journey at a relatively reasonable price level.

Concerning Belles speaker power ratings questioned above:

Aria: 75W (Rms) per channel into 8 ohms, 125W (Rms) per channel into 4 ohms.

Aria Signature: 125W per channel into 8 ohms, 225W watts into 4 ohms.

If you hurry, you might be able to snag the AYRE ax-7e used for $1400 listed currently on Audiogon. While I have not heard it, Ayre is in the upper echelon of American electronics and you could easily resell it if it doesn’t offer the sound you’re looking for. I bet it will be great, and I seriously doubt you can do better for the money.

Not much to suggest beyond what has been mentioned here already. I would just reiterate to pick something up on the pre-owned market as there is a ton of savings/value to be had.  

If you are looking for a little warmth and lots of current to drive your speakers with aplomb, from what I have read — Parasound and Plinius would be good choices. I have heard Belles Aria and now have the Aria Signature. They are both fine integrated amps — but as mentioned by mesch above, there is no published data on what it delivers into 4 ohms. You want something that doubles the wattage from 8 to 4 ohms ideally.

Outlaw 2160 is at a good price point at $600-$700

Save up until you can get One of the World's Best and be done for life 

Soulnote Audio A-1 at $4K USA 

https://www.atelier13-usa.com/soulnote-line-overview

Thank you, jjss49, for that. They all look really good. To my ears, my Piega speakers are clean and clear, but not brash. Also given a bigger, relatively bare room, it seems to me that a little more warmth plus plenty of power for those 4 ohm speakers is the ticket.Does that seem right?

i have owned the belles aria (twice), along with numerous hegels, ayres, some upper older musical fidelities

david belles’ aria is a nice integrated, powerful, very stoutly built, nice phono stage in it too (the remote control is downright cheap though)

sonically, i found the belles to have a little more of a brash personality - more treble energy, some sizzle, a little grain, compared to the more refined hegel and ayre sound... so it depends if you want that or your speakers benefit from a little more sizzle up top...

the ayre, hegel and top flight retro musical fidelity amps (a308, muvista etc) provide a degree of treble sophistication of even higher tier solid state amplification (ample detail and soundstaging free of attendant electronic harshness)

Is it a fair statement that vintage integrateds are not considered a worthy option here?

Arcam SA-20

Another +vote for AYRE Ax-7e.  Thank me later.

Happy Listening!

The $1k Outlaw Audio RR2160MKII stereo receiver may be a good option.

If I was looking for a used integrated amplifier in the $1500 price range the Belles Aria would be on my short list. It delivers 75wpc into 8ohms. My spearers are easy to drive however. 

I  haven't looked extensively but have not found  the Aria spec for 4ohms. Also not familiar with your speakers. Question is how much the speaker impedance drops below 4ohms. 

Not to over push the Rogue Sphinx V3, but there is a Stereophile review which includes a measurement section providing detailed account of this amplifier. 

Both Belles and Rogue are good companies to deal with.

OP, I just listed a Cambridge CXA81 on USAudiomart for $850.  Would be ideal for you.  Use coax out from you Node2i to use the Cambridge DAC.  You won't be disappointed.

I personally use a Peachtree Nova 300-Bluesound Node 2i - I use the Nova's DAC-; Pro ject CD transport and Harbeth 30.1 monitors in a very small square room. Night mare(!) but after much stress it sounds pretty good for such a modest system. They are giving these Peachtrees away but they are a good value. Lots of power for the money (class D but think of the environment). I play this thing all day. If I was to change and spend more money I would just change out another integrated with DAC. MacIntosh or Luxman or Hi Fi Rose (no DAC tho). Good luck, perhaps spend more now on Integrated unit.

I have had a few god amps in my 6 decades of pursuing this hobby. Would suggest you consider spending about $1500 and evaluate Rotel Ai4 Integrated amp. Good DAC and phono stage with a large number of other features. Sounds Good. 

These are great suggestions, thank you! I am researching and looking primarily on the second-hand market, with mixed results in terms of availability. Am a little nervous about that, just had an unhappy experience on Reverb.com.

Try Sony TA-A1ES. A lot of amp for the money. Can be had for 1K used.

+1 for a Parasound Halo Integrated

I've owned one and thought it was fabulous.

Very versatile integrated with a good DAC and a basic phono section.

Also- Their customer service is top notch.

Not familiar with your speakers, but I'd add to the recommendations of the Belles Aria.  It's a fantastic integrated for the price (~$1 to $1.5k used).  Based on so many positive online reviews of the Rogue Sphinx V2, I also tested it in my system and the Belles was much more natural and musical to my ears.  Hope you find a good fit with your system! 

+3 On the Schiit Ragnarok Integrated amp

Mike