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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

freezoner
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
6,082 posts
 

@freezoner 

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. 😁

freezoner OP
27 posts
 

Thanks curiousjim. Yes, ear fatigue is real - especially for me. I listened to a few KEF speakers through several different amps and I am with you: KEFs are out for me. My list has shortened considerably to PMC Prophecy7, Dynaudio Contour 30i, and Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2. I have heard these through some rather low-priced integrated amps - all which left me quite surprised - and they all sounded great.

The adventure continues...

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,928 posts
 

hegel would be one major brand to consider... their integrateds (from mid-line and up) are truly excellent

for a value play (given the op indicates he/she is impressed with luxman) consider the chi-fi kinki ex-m1 -- tremendously pure and tactile sonics in the luxman vein and wonderful power/speaker control 

hasmarto's avatar
hasmarto
252 posts
 

I would recommend to audition Unison Research Due integrated. It sounds really enjoyable and listed as $4000, made in Italy. 

freezoner OP
27 posts
 

Yes...I heard the Dynaudio speakers through a lower priced Unison Research integrated the other day. It sounded great. Thanks for the recommendation!

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