I’m trying to find a HIGH QUALITY integrated that has: 1. A no-corners-cut real class A - A/B power stage. 2. A real, high quality analog preamp line stage. 3. A good phono stage.
Aside from a few very high end products, the above described integrateds seem not to exist. Why can’t I find a quality integrated? Do we just have to accept having a pile of boxes?
Jeepers, casting aspersions on an entire category of equipment without citing the reasons why, such as price and/or anything else, kind of begs off any informative dialogue that might develop.
After a good many years spent with separates, and a good many amp/preamp combinations used, I went back to a quality integrated simply to remove all the fuss/cables.
I don’t know what price point the op is considering so I’m just going to say that if one is accustomed to spending one’s dollars on separates, one should be prepared to spend a similar amount on an integrated. My experience with a B. A. T. Preamp for my Pass Labs X150.5 amp resulted in my purchasing a B. A. T. Integrated with an identical power rating to the Pass Labs.
The VK300XSE has a good phono stage, puts out 150 watts @ 8ohms, 300 @ 4ohms, is tubed, and takes up less space. I bought it refurbished for approximately half it’s original msrp and am quite satisfied with its unsuckiness!
@ps Has been said a few times already , myself included but still on it rolls. Now the actual thread material could be of interest and useful to some I am sure, always great to find out about equipment. However it is the way the op approaches it that is so juvenile. The majority if not ALL his threads ate titled in the same belittling, antagonist way and that just sets the mood for the majority of the following discussion. So really they are doomed before they even start. Now he has been told of this many times already so as he carries on in the same vein one can only assume he is out to deliberately annoy everyone here! Something he appears to do exceedingly well!
I just took delivery of a Viva Solistino IA, it will replace my Modwright LS-100 PA and KWA 150SE amp. The Viva is an 845 SET with 18 W class 'A'. So far it's not lacking anything and is driving my speakers just fine. I am a big fan of Modwright gear, also had the KWI-200, and was nervous about replacing my MW gear with an all tube based IA system. To be fair, I'm still getting accustomed to the Viva performance but glad I made the move a good designed and built IA can and will compete with seperates. It comes down to individual personal preference.
Try TOL vintage Japanese. Lyman, Kenwood Supreme, Sansui, Accuphase, and Pioneer all have the things you desire. They will simply need a complete refurb. A good refurb should run $500 +. Enjoy.
+1 dadatl Big fan of vintage TOTL Sansui and Kenwood here. I currently use Kenwood L-02A and have heard L-A1, Sansui alpha 907 limited and MR. Absolute wonderful pieces of equipment. If money is not an issue, Accuphase E-600 is a terrific pure class-A amp.
I have had BAT, Pass, Bel Canto, Simaudio gear ... and would suggest, depending on budget: . BAT 300xSE (Ist version, used prices 50% of msrp, as stated above). hybrid tube/SS design. 150w, good bottom end, but not as much grip as Pass 150.5. Used = $2500 . the next gen BAT 3000xSE . Simaudio 150wpc, tried and true solid state Sim equipment. i think they still have a 10-20 year warranty. Used = $4000 or so . Bel Canto: the c5i is a good choice. if you can swing it, go for the bigger brother, the 7 series . What about Naim? I just sold my Naim Nait 5i (i in italics) integrated for $750, only 5 years old, and 1/2 the msrp.
OP, we are actually in the golden age of audio IMO, meaning that there has never been so much good gear at such good used prices. The technology had to catch up to become equal to separates, and we arrived there about 10 years ago if you have a fat wallet, or 5 years ago if your wallet is a bit thinner (like me).
madavid0 OP78 posts02-07-2018 9:07pmWhat about PrimaLunas? Are these things really the giant monster-killers a lot of people claim they are?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have the PrimaLuna (PL) HP dialogue HP tube integrated. For $4k, its a GREAT deal, as far as bang for the buck.
But after 1.5 years with the PL, I will say that the 6 stock preamp tubes, and the stock 8 EL34 tubes are good, but did not "knock it out of the park" for me. The BEST thing I did was replace the 2 main preamp input tubes with NOS tubes from Upscale Audio, and move from EL34 tubs in the amp section to a well-reputed KT-88 model.
So my last opinion of the PL integrated is that it is a great integrated to grow with, to play with different tubes and even different speakers.
It is an awesome Blueprint of an integrated amp for you to build upon and customize to your own ears. But this requires a process (love it and/or hate it, like me) to listen, tube roll, learn, tube roll, get input from forums, try a different speakers, etc ... you know how the hobby goes.
In the end, I paid $4k for the PL from Upscale, $200 on NOS preamp tubes, and $500 on an octet of KT-88s. Total = $4700. best, let us know what you decide
The Ayon is the amp in my 2nd system driving JM Rynaud Offrande Supreme V2s
The Line Magnetic, Finale Audio are in my main system along with Modwright separates - (LS100 tube pre & KWA100SE solid state amp ) , I alternate between each every 2 weeks or so driving Daedalus Argos V2s. I alternate because I enjoy what each brings vs simply allowing myself only one listening experience.
@jtweed "if I wasn’t married, and didn’t have 2 girls in private school...... oh the gear I would have......."
The life of an audiophile is never easy and is almost always fraught with pain. Most of us are forced to make significant sacrifices. The road is strewn with toxic shards; we dare not venture forth shoeless. But we must never lose sight of the greater good, and with Providential guidance, we ultimately shall do what we must do.
PS "
The life of an audiophile is never easy and is almost always fraught
with pain. Most of us are forced to make significant sacrifices. The
road is strewn with toxic shards; we dare not venture forth shoeless.
But we must never lose sight of the greater good, and with Providential
guidance, we ultimately shall do what we must do.
"
Our cause is often misunderstood and complete mystery to all other non audiophiles......
Providential guidance? Free will. Period. However, I was listening to some stuff at an audio geek friend's house last weekend (he produces and I mix a successful concert series), and I was musing about the fact that people who otherwise appreciate artistry don't do any "active" listening to great sounding audio. A mystery…I also don't understand why people don't all have motorcycles and play electric guitar.
Wow, so madavid wins again by stirring it up. He has zero interest in this thread or our responses. His MO and turn on is to throw the hot potato in the middle of the room and then run.
We all know that integrateds can sound wonderful and have a place at the audio table.
I have two outstanding integrated amps (both were Stereophile Class A stock) that I would not trade for any combination of separates that I've heard.
My Pathos TT RR has upgraded capacitors (Mundorf Silver-Gold-Oil) and resistors (Audio Note). I have the new Sophia Electric blue EL-4-ST power tubes in my Unison S6. Performance from both is so good in my system that I am off the upgrade merry-go-round and can find nothing to criticize when I listen to them.
@jburidan You are correct and there are a great number of delightful integrated but as always its horses for courses. However in this case you only have to examine the ops track record on antagonistic threads.........
I owned the Pass Int-60 and it beat out everything till I spent almost 3x the price on a Gryphon Diablo 300. Strengths of the Pass....a delicious tube like sound.....the Diablo 300s strength is that it has a more live presentation. Pick your poison.
I have mostly separates but do have a system with the Naim Supernait. The original, DAC is quite good, have the outboard phono stage also quite good. A terrific buy used.
You seem to have a penchant for calling everything a "scam," and me in particular a "shill," and when questioned, you fall off of the end of the earth. In your thread where you accuse Synergistic Research's HFT's of being a "scam," you asked if there was a return policy. When answered in the affirmative, I asked you if you ordered a set using the 30 day return policy and to please report back with your results. To date, you've never gotten back to me. Is that your style, Madvaid0? You just raise controversy just for the giggles? What's up with you man? Are you still a teenager, or what?
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