Best Integrated Amp.

I don't run an integrated amp, but I have heard a few reasonably priced models that are worth looking into. I saw a $1800 integrated from Rogue at CES that sounded terrific and met pretty high standards for construction and finish. I believe it utilized El34 tubes.

A tube integrated from Consonance, playing at the nearby T.H.E. Show also sounded fantastic and it too was pretty cheap.

I am also quite familiar with the Jolida 302b. A friend of mine is a dealer, but I think he has given up on the Jolida line because of reliability problems. He says that the current model uses output transformers that seem to be failing at a pretty high rate, while models produced before 2001 seem to hold up longer.

Check for a used Gryphon Integrated and look no further. I have had the Tabu At and the Tabu Century, both great amps.

I have a VAC Avatar Super powering VSA VR2's
I love the sound all the good qualities of tubes
if you go SS the gryphon,asr would be good choices
the amps i mentioned don't come up used very often that in itself should tell u something

I second the Unico. Yes, I own one - but I know its strengths and weaknesses (in stock form) quite well.

The Unico fits the bill as you describe it to a 't'. Warm enough to smooth out 'bright' speakers and enough power reserve to get you boogying, especially with higher-efficiency speakers.