Opinions on these budget integrateds?

"Quality is probably the least issue with the Yamaha."
"It is a rock, but if there is an issue it would be power. It's 90 wpc @ 8ohm can make your speaker choice an issue."

I have the"baby brother" Yamaha A-S1000 with "90w/ch@8ohms, 140w/ch@4ohms" and tipping the scales at 48.5lbs and believe me it does not lack power.  Though I am driving 97dB "bookshelf" speakers so my opinion may be skewed a bit.  Also rock solid reliability for 4 years and counting.

Bill

"I hate to see people pay more than they have to and for stuff that's not as good as what can be had cheaper. But it's not my $."

@secretguy -- What an arrogant and useless little statement. Must be great to be you!

" I hate overspending too, so what do you recommend?"
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's a secret ............

One more endorsement for the Parasound Halo. You can buy the pre-upgrade Hint model for probably $400 less than it retailed before the Hint 6 came out. That means, you can probably find it new for about $1900. It's like buying an iPhone 9 right after the 10 comes out--big discount.

Does anyone have comparison experience with the NuPrime integrated amps, like the IDA-16?

This clearance sale on the Nuforce power amp is a stone cold bargain.  Pair with a decent but not too expensive preamp and you have an integrated-beating combo.

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1NUSTA200

You can buy the pre-upgrade Parasound Hint model for probably $400 less than it retailed before the Hint 6 came out.

New Features (Changes from the original Halo Integrated)

• Burr Brown analogue resistor ladder volume control
• Dimmable front panel volume display
• Updated USB receiver is Plug and play with Windows 10 and MAC
• An additional optical input (2 total)
• Ball bearing supported solid aluminium volume knob
• Programmable default turn on volume setting
• Favourite volume memory with remote control button
• Increased phono stage gain for lower output cartridges
• Improved Left/Right channel separation and balance tracking
• Updated cosmetics with subtle gold highlights

Wow, didn't know about this new Halo Integrated Hint upgrade model.
I'd go the extra $400

Cheers George

Sleepwalker65: Although we all appreciate YHO - sometimes you can be surprised by a power cable change or some tube swapping.

If you discount things by cost, you completely hamper yourself.

If you have the item I referred to or have actually heard it: then you have a serious point of reference.

Maybe my ears aren't so sophisicated that I can delineate equipment $$$$ but at the cost of this item, nobody loses if it is not acceptable. And it is returnable as well...

For me in a 2nd system, it sings and is toe-tappin' enough to warrant a chump change investment. 

Arguement against a non-US Made product would hold more validity than yours - and we all know that's not a valid point either.

So sforrey: any developments? have you 'committed' and decided?

Question posers often leave those who offered HO hangin' - please fill us in as to where you are. Thanks!