Suggestions for an integrated upgrade please


Hello everyone,

I am looking to upgrade my integrated here is my system

FLAC on mac book pro — Singxer Su6—Lampizator level4+ Gen5—jolida jd1000a

with gold lions preamp tubes and Mullard tubes— NHT 3.3 speakers

Before the Jolida I had an Hegel H100.

I like the midrange of the Jolida, it has a nice presence, nice timbres but the problem is when raise the volume, I don’t go deeper inside the music, it just gets louder but the sound doesn’t get bigger, soundstage is small. Also there’s no air with this amp. Bass is very weak.

 

The Hegel was technically nicer but I could never emotionally with the music on this amp. It just sounded fake.

 

I listen to 65-85dbs level, my room is small, 12’x18’

 

I want to stay with an integrated as my wife wont allow multiple components ans cables in the room

 

The NHT 3.3 are rates 87db @ 6ohm

 

I listened to a Kora 400, which sounded amazing but at 12k usd it is out my budget

 

It is hard to organize listening session because of covid

so I am looking for suggestions to narrow down the numbers of sessions needed.

 

I don’t mind if it is tube or transistor as long as it has beautiful midrange, timbres, deep soundstage and air.

 

budget is 3 to 5K usd, I don’t mind buying used or new.

 

any suggestions are welcome!

 

thanks

 

 

 

 

maurice89

Kinki Audio INT EX-M1 $2,395 215wpc @ 8ohms , Class A/B,3 year Warranty. China

kinki-studio.com/ex-m1

Exposure 3510 INT 110wpc @ 8ohm Class A/B $3,000 3 year Warranty. UK

exposurehifi.com/portfolio-items/3510-series

 

You're getting excellent suggestions on the integrated amps.

Once you figure that out. Here are some additional suggestions:

 

1) as mentioned the 87db speakers may be veiling some of the timbre and detail. Think about getting something  in the 91db+ range.

 

2) flac files are still compressed files. Try to transition to full-size wav files. Storage is cheap these days. If you use iTunes, set it so it doesn't 'manage'  your files. For some reason iTunes kept making my wav files lossless so I had to transition off iTunes for my music. They sound much better for it.

I'd email Frank at Finale Audio.  No matter your speakers or other equipment, he'll point you in the right direction.  I myself use Apple TV with their lossless and digital master recordings.  But my DAC is a Hifi Bluetooth receiver too.  Best of wishes to your ears.