Integrated with Phono Stage under $10K


I'm looking to move up in the world and get a great integrated. I want to simplify in the process so I prefer it have a phono stage too. It will be mated with ProAc speakers (Response 1SC currently, Response D28 in the near future).

I enjoyed the Manley Stingray I had, but it lacked detail and staging and was a bit noisy. The Red Wine Audio I use right now is awesome where the stingray isn't, but is not as musical. I want both.

Contenders thus far are:

Copland CTA 405
Gryphon Atilla
VAC Integrated (Current Alpha or older Avatar)

Comments from owners would be aprreciated. What else should I be looking at?
shazam

Showing 7 responses by shazam

I can't tell you all how grateful I am for the options and education. Just so darned hard to make decisions when you can't hear most of these without buying. Lots of research to do...

(I'm feeling totally seduced by the Luxman SQ-38u - and I haven't even heard it yet!)
Ooh, the Luxman is sexy in an old school way - worth considering. Thanks for the multiple recommendations, John, I'll investigate.

Cary, I'm trying to focus on reducing components and getting a smaller footprint. I'd love nothing more than to have a full setup with RWA Isabella, 70.2 monoblocks and a Sutherland PhD phono stage, but space is limited. This is about compromise of space with minimal compromise of sound.
And the winner is...

The LSA Statement. Maybe a bit of an impulse buy, but I found a deal I couldn't pass up. I was already leaning towards the Signature so maybe it's just serendipity the Statement landed in my lap. I don't see myself having second thoughts or doubts about it - more amp than I need right now and enough to power my potential speaker choices in the future.

Should have it in about 2 weeks.
My first full week-end with the LSA Statement - I'm in love. I bought it here on the 'gone, so it's been mostly broken in. It does need a few minutes to warm up to full potential (10-20 minutes) but once it is, it just brings the room alive.

First of all, I never knew my little ProAc 1SCs were capable of such big things. I bought the amp in no small part to power a larger set of speakers (yet to choose). But the message seems to be clear - power matters whatever you pair it with. I'm getting low end authority that I've never heard from either my Stingray or Red Wine - neither a slouch. It really is almost a full range sound I'm getting.

Staging is on par with the battery powered RWA amp. I knew the LSA was a dual mono design, but I didn't expect it to be as good as the best staging stereo amp I've ever heard (the RWA). I thought I might regret this aspect of not choosing the path of separates, but I'm extremely happy.

The sound is oh so seductive. Lots of sweetness and bloom around instruments that the Stingray gave me hints of are just there with the LSA. And, in a completely non-fatiguing way (where the Stingray can come across as aggressive and a bit of a workout to listen to).

I haven't enjoyed classical this much since...well, probably ever. I go to the symphony a few times a year but recorded classical just never seemed to capture what I like about it. Sure, I've enjoyed the improvements of high resolution recordings, but this last week-end with the LSA is the first time I've felt like I'm getting the experience. Maybe it's just my upbeat mood about the amp, but I'm excited to have a big avenue of music open up to me again.

As a person who often feels a lot of buyers remorse with big purchases like this, I have zero hesitation about the LSA - especially getting it second hand. I may not need to change amplifiers for a long long time.
I had a chance to review the Luxman SQ-38u at home this last week-end. Just for posterity sake I thought I would post a few thoughts here since it was one of the contenders I looked at.

First off - best headphone amp I've ever heard. Granted, I've not heard a ton, but the synergy with my AKG 702s was wonderful. Lively, accurate, super deep soundstage (something none of my other headphone amps have managed) and just plain a joy to listen to. I think it certainly points me in a direction if I ever invest heavily in a headphone amp.

Conversely, the amp does not have good synergy with my ProAc speakers. More to the point, the amp seems to me to be made to work best with single driver speakers and create that "old school" sound heard in top gear from a generation or two ago. Great for what it is but not what I was looking for. Nice imaging and great bloom almost on par with the LSA, and tone almost better (with vocals/choral selections this may have been true). But it was markedly 'slower' and 'flabby' compared to the LSA at the bottom end - which is where my heart lies and what seduces me about music. The weight of string section doesn't carry moment as well, the articulation and clarity of the bass and drums not up to snuff with the LSA in my opinion.

Lastly, it was hot, Hot, HOT! I suppose an all tube class A design will always be this way, but it certainly needs to be shelved on the top of any rack. I had to pull it out from where I had it for worry of blackening the wood on the underside of my rack.

All in all a nice unit. I love the features and the headphone amp is awesome. If the sound signature is to your liking, certainly worth your consideration.
Don't know about using the Copland as a pre - that depends on if it is set up with the jumpers and what not to do so. I do know I can use my LSA that way (either as a pre, or as just an amp) but can't find any specs on the Copland.