The Karan is a great integrated. I sold mine because it had no pre outs.
$5000 integrated budget: Please help me choose....
Looking at a very good integrated. I have been in the audio game quite a while, and have bounced around from several speakers. I have just fallen in love with an Opera Callas Divina (full range, 2 way, low impedance down to 4.4 ohm, nominal 6 ohm, 89db/w) and need a nice integrated to go with it. I recently decided to "start over"! Original plan was to purchase a Sonus Faber, but this was similar, for much less money.
I am mainly looking at Integrated solutions at this time. It seems value in this price range is very high, and there are some good ones. Tried matching separates in the past: been there, done that. Tube or solid state is OK, listening preferences are mostly classical, orchestra and chamber, jazz and vocals. Typical music lover stuff. Source will be CDP and the room is fairly big, at 450 square feet. Hard to find anything above a Jolida locally to demo.
Some models under consideration:
Lavardin IT
Karan 180
McIntosh MA2275
Rowland Continuum 250
Jadis (model 60?)
Simaudio I-7 (maybe too thin)?
Cary SLI 80 F1
Conrad Johnson CA-200
I have been running a cheap Jolida tube integrated, but that is a leftover from a previous system, and I would like to step up. I don't need to spend $5000 if I don't have to, but that is my max budget.
Sound wise, the Opera is a bit sweet and smooth, a touch warm (typical Italian sound) and I am looking for a tube amp or hybrid that isn't to "tubey" but rather leans somewhat toward musical and real, but not overly mushy.
I am mainly looking at Integrated solutions at this time. It seems value in this price range is very high, and there are some good ones. Tried matching separates in the past: been there, done that. Tube or solid state is OK, listening preferences are mostly classical, orchestra and chamber, jazz and vocals. Typical music lover stuff. Source will be CDP and the room is fairly big, at 450 square feet. Hard to find anything above a Jolida locally to demo.
Some models under consideration:
Lavardin IT
Karan 180
McIntosh MA2275
Rowland Continuum 250
Jadis (model 60?)
Simaudio I-7 (maybe too thin)?
Cary SLI 80 F1
Conrad Johnson CA-200
I have been running a cheap Jolida tube integrated, but that is a leftover from a previous system, and I would like to step up. I don't need to spend $5000 if I don't have to, but that is my max budget.
Sound wise, the Opera is a bit sweet and smooth, a touch warm (typical Italian sound) and I am looking for a tube amp or hybrid that isn't to "tubey" but rather leans somewhat toward musical and real, but not overly mushy.
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- 35 posts total
F1a, An earlier review on the Jeff Rowland integrated can be found here JRDG Continuum 500 Review . This is being updated after more run in. A review on the Gryphon is presently under preparation. |
Out of the list, my preference would be for the McIntosh unit. It will give you great sound and outstanding reliability. Plus it will handle easily any program material you wish to play. Another Integrated amp option may be a BAT vk300 it is hybrid design with a tube preamp and solid state output. Its sound is very similar to the McIntosh 2275. Not quite a tube amp sound but pretty tube like in its sonic character. Also well built and very reliable. Evens so you wont go wrong with a Conrad Johnson, Rowland, or Jadis pieces either. I cannot comment on the others cause I never heard an offering from those companies. For what its worth I could live with any one of them. So the other factor that I would weigh is accessibility for maintenance and service. Of what you listed the McIntosh will present to you the greatest amount options should you need it repaired. |
- 35 posts total