A New Integrated Amp
Hello. I'm soliciting opinions/experience with integrated amps. I wonder about hybrid integrated amps also (ie., Advance Paris A12). I am not all that impressed with Arcam, Marantz, Yamaha, but I've heard Luxmans (wow), Parasound (a bit sterile) and Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III (impressive in a demo environment). I have not chosen speakers as of yet but I'm leaning towards DynAudio Evoke, Sonus Faber Sonetto, and PMC.
I listen to primarily artier rock (although Metallica, Soundgarden, The Who and Zeppelin hits the spot from time to time), electronica, trip hop, new wave and punk from the late 70s and early 80s, spacey prog, and P-Funk; we also like to hear the musica de Latin America.
Budget for an amp ought to be in the $3K-$4K range. Room size is 15 x 20 x 9.
Thanks in advance
Couldn't disagree more. I had this combo. The amp was out of it's depth. |
I agree with many others here to start with the speakers and then match the integrated amp from there.
insofar as great Integrated Amps, I recommend giving the Krell K300i a listen. It is stunningly good and if you get it with the digital board, it will be a nice central piece to your rig. They can be found used at the top end of the price range you mentioned.
BYW, I own one and and loving it. 90watts into 8ohms Class A, then up to 150. In class A/B, doubles in 4ohms and doubles agin into 2ohms. It will drive anything and do it with authority, clarity, and great musicality. |
OP, Great for taking the speaker first approach. One note. Be cautious that "trebly" sounding speakers can sound more detailed... but may not be well balanced and can be fatiguing in the long run. I have known this for decades...but keep having to keep myself from letting my minds eye (ear) drift to them when listening. |
So, you have a nice size space, and will get new speakers and new amp, correct? My 50 years of accumulated preferences: Efficient full range floor standing speakers, large front facing woofers, no ports; and Tubes for both preamp and amp. I also like tubes for MM Phono RIAA, and a SUT for LOMC to keep using those tubes. My vintage speakers have horn tweeters, horn mid, and 15" woofers, with L-Pads to adjust the drivers in the listening space which I consider vital. I drove them for many years with 30 wpc tube mono blocks, now a newer Cayin Integrated A88T which is either 22wpc triode or 45wpc ultralinear, either enough power: I prefer KT88s ultralinear. My full featured vintage tube preamp includes two MM Phono inputs, and I use a SUT to boost weak signal MC. My stuff shown here https://www.audiogon.com/systems/users/elliottbnewcombjr Plan the space for Alternate Toe-In |
Of the speakers you mentioned earlier, KEF is going to be the brightest sounding and the Sonus Farber are probably going to be the warmest sounding and the most forgiving. I currently have Sonus Farber and have run Mac, Hegel, and PS Audio through them and they all sounded different and they all sounded good! Before the SF’s I had KEF and they actually hurt my ears when playing @65-70 dbs. Now I don’t have that problem. 😁 |
