1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 191205-178933

Integrated Amps

I'm debating whether to upgrade my Marantz integrated with a better performing and higher powered integrated or simply add a separate amp and use the Marantz as a pre-amp. I've looked at stepping up to the Marantz model 30 or 40n, PS Audio Stellar Strata, Music Fidelity M5si/M6si. But then the Heaven 11 Billie caught my eye.

Has anyone had any experience with the Heaven 11 Billie integrated amp? It's a hybrid class D amp w/ a tubed pre-amp. The reviews I've watched seem to give the unit high marks for sound quality, presentation, sound stage, and because of the tubed pre-amp, an analog warmth to the otherwise "cold" sound of a class D amp. 

https://heaven11audio.com/billie2-amp-features-specs/?v=7516fd43adaa

 

bipod72
gano
750 posts
 

I find audiotroy rude but maybe I am reading it wrong 

vthokie83
1,224 posts
 

bipod72

It really depends on the price you want to spend (I didn't see any listed in the thread), but the Heaven11 Billie Mk2 is an excellent integrated for it's $2,000 price point. I helped a friend of mine on a budget set up a system, and used the Billie amp for him. He is running Buchardt Audio S400 MKII or Monitor 100 Silver speakers, and it really is excellent.....very musical, good soundstage, and nice punch. I've heard his set up 7 or 8 different times since then, and I still find it a really musical amp. It runs slightly warm of neutral, but fun and really enjoyable.

The Billie amp is less than $2,000 with free shipping, has a tube preamp, good power, 30 day return policy, and quite a few good reviews (Steve Huff, British Audiophile, Nemo, Steve Guttenberg).

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

just let's not call it "budget" or cheap. It's all relative

3607
14 posts
 

Hegel

chenry's avatar
chenry
289 posts
 

The Heaven 11 offers a compelling value and feature proposition: integrated with good power, tube preamp, DAC, headphone amp, phono preamp. Peachtree used to offer a similar integrated, but in a less visually-appealing package. Vincent Audio also has hybrid integrateds with tube preamp section in a couple of their amps, but they are at higher prices. I don’t know how recent ICEPower class D modules compare to other modules. I had Peachtree's Nova 300 integrated which was a powerful class D amp with ICEPower modules, but that was a much older design. I have been using a combination of a ProJect PreBox RS2 Digital (selectable tube section) preamp/DAC/headphone amp that has bluetooth and a phono preamp with a separate NAD C298 class D amp with Purifi modules which is a very good combination, more power (185W/8R) but more expensive and without the visual appeal of the Heaven 11 Billie Mk II.

 

More to discover