New Integrated amp recommendation

I will add my thumbs up to all the positive comments on the Anthem STR.

In general I have been a fan of a solid state power amp fronted with a tubed pre.

Wanting to give a break to my 30 year old Audible Illusions Pre. and hoping to find a replacement Pre. that sounded that good, with a built in phono stage, for something less than 10K wasn't easy. After reading all the very favorable comments on the Anthem STR, I thought that for half the price of a nice Pre. with a built in phono stage, I'd give it a try. Driving my little power hungry Maggie 1.7s for almost 2 years now, I have been most satisfied with both the sound and it's flawless performance.

 

 

 

@jwfitzdo - your Revel speakers are somewhat easy to drive, so there are a lot of excellent integrated choices.  Here’s my list of medium-high powered integrates that I found notable (prices are old):

1.5 Wired 4 Sound mINT

3.0 Unison Research Unico Nuovo 

*4.5 Rogue Audio Cronus "Dark" Integrated Amplifier 100wpc

-5.0 Arcam SA45 - 180/300wpc AXPONA - sounded great

-5.5 Audio Research I/50 50wpc optional phono ($750), 

DAC ($1000)

5.5  Atoll SDA300 Signature 150wpc

*5.9 Kora TB140 70wpc surprisingly great

*6.5 Lab12 integre4 MK2 75wpc tube                   -7.0 Krell K-300i [XLR in]

-7.4 LFD NCSE mk3 70wpc  ss          

-7.4 LYNGDORF TDAI-3400 200/400wpc

          AXPONA sounded great

-7.7 Hegel H400

- 8.3 Synthesis Action A100 Titan w DAC 100wpc 

     tube                                                         

9.0 Audio Research VSI 75 75wpc tube                        -10.0 Bat VK80i 55/55wpc tube        

-10.0 Audio Research i70  70wpc

*10.0 SimAudio Moon 641 300wpc SS                                             

-12.0 Vinnie Rossi L2i-SE used 

13.4 Boulder 866 200/400wpc 210/360wpc 

      tested ss

*15.0 ALLNIC T-2000 30th Anniversary Stereo 

      Integrated 120wpc/60wpcSET tube                   

-15.9 Grandinote Shinai 37wpc can drive Magico

I have just come back from listening to the Esoteric F-01, an outstanding amp even with only 20 hours or so on it. This was hooked up to the Audiovector R3's (in Porche Green, beautiful). Way out of most people's price range though.

At the same audio store are a couple of Sugden integrated amps that I have also had the pleasure of listening to. The A21SE has really grabbed my attention, a wonderful, effortless class A sound at a reasonable price point. Just another model to consider.

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