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The best integrated amplifier

Hi All
Right now I am using a Marantz PM-KI Pearl amp to drive Esoteric MG-20 speakers. I feel that a better amplifier would give them a bit more get up and go. I would like to stick with an integrated and have short listed:
Pass Labs INT-150
Moon 700i
Audio Research dsi150
GammuT Di 150
As a starting point for auditioning. Now to the question:
Is there anything else I should put on the list?
Any experience with the products listed would be helpful.
Thanks
zekezebra

Showing 3 responses by akg_ca

akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,146 posts
 
Rega OSIRIS ... lots of glowing review out there

demo units for $4,999 (brand new is $9K) currently on E-Bay (US site)
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,146 posts
 
re: "... However an owner said that you better have warm speakers and it might not do so well with poor recordings..."

I am an OSIRIS owner. From direct personal experience I do not agree that "warm" speakers are required. We test-drove many different pairs before settling on our final choice.

Any brand top quality gear will highlight any shortcomings in poor quality recordings. The amp simply reproduces what is fed to it... "garbage in = garbage out" as the homily goes. That points to either the quality of the source or the recording, or both.
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,146 posts
 
I've auditioned the LAVARDIN and the LFD and also the AUDIOMAT before I bought.All were outstanding.

LFD was my personal choice between these but subject to the clear qualification that it appeared to very sensitive to one and all of a proper matching to (i) the source, (ii) the speakers' and yes ... (iii) using LFD's own top-shelf (and expensive ...sigh) cables (ICs and speaker cables)

In a properly tailored system it is magical and was my personal #2 choice overall in my ultimate purchase. This illusory search for audio nirvana (clearly a value judgement)in our common hobby is more of a journey rather than a destination.
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