What do you like about your integrated amp?


So, the other day I was moving my ARC REF 75 amp to clean the insides, along with the shelf it was sitting on, when suddenly I felt a stabbing pain in one of my obliques, as I was twisting my body.

Shouting out a quick, "Oh f***," my wife said, "What are you going to do when you get older, and can't move the amp?" I have periodically wondered that myself, since I am just shy of 71.

As the discussion title says-what do you like about your integrated amp? It's a wide-open query because I'm thinking if I'm going to consolidate my equipment, let's see what's out there? I'm partial to tube equipment and have enjoyed Audio Research for almost 30 years. Does that mean I should get an ARC integrated? Maybe, maybe not.

FTR--I listen to lots of jazz, folk, classical, not that much rock beyond what I grew up listening to-Beatles, the Dead, the Stones--stuff like that. I have a pair of ProAc 30Rs, an Aurender server, and an ARC CD6SE.

All your comments are appreciated-

David 

 

wharfy

The only higher wattage/light weight tube integrated I'm aware of is the Linear Tube Audio 40 model that puts out around 50 watts (18 pounds, or so).

Great reviews that unfortunately don't seem to mention the optional phono section.

Other tube integrated amps with enough power for your speakers will weight as much as your power amp (or your preamplifier).

 

DeKay

My motivation last year was not weight (although that previously was part of a decision to sell two 75 lb. mono amps).  This time it was to simplify my system.  I had a smaller pair of mono amps and a line stage which were replaced by an Accuphase integrated amp.  That proved to be a good choice so I'm pleased.

However I wanted to keep tubes in the system so also got a tube phono stage and CD player with tubes in the circuit.

This all looks cleaner and less cluttered and I'm enjoying the sonics at least as much.  And everything fits on my Target rack.

I'm 73. I leave my Audio Research Ref 160s in one place and don't move it. When I bought it. my dealer came over and took away the Pass 350 and put it in place. For fun be brought over a set of Ref 160 monoblocks and left them for a year and a half. Then put back my 160s. I've not moved and amp in ten years. 

Good integrated amps are not light weight. 

Don't compromise, life is too short, find someone to move them for you. 

I’m 77, I’ve got a 3rd torn Meniscus from moving an 80 lb beast.

I always encourage efficient speakers, to keep the power needs lower, so you can more easily try tubes, and keep the size/weight/cost down.

My favorite integrated is my Little Luxman SQ-N150, fits on top of a bookcase, lets me use tubes in a small office, on the far left, nice sounding Phono built-in.

If you need more power, mono-blocks can divide the weight

 

 

Beaucoup power, beaucoup current, beaucoup sound, and 23 years and ~40,000 hours on it without a hiccup!

 

Oh, it’s a Yamaha RX-Z9, so technically, a receiver.