Integrated amplifiers ,thoughts please

Thinking of going for an integrated amp,looking at and will audition,Musical Fidelity kw550,m300 nuvista,pssibly Luxman and an LSA integrated.None are new but all mint thoughts of your experiences would be appreciated can have phono or just be line.Would prefer remote but otherwise just looking for some input.

Thanks.

 

Add the Cambridge 840A to your list.

Built like a brick outhouse, plenty of power for all but insane loads, useful tone controls (with defeat for the paranoid), doesn't hiss or hum and sounds great.

 

Heard the LSA standard. Very ballsy amp, great dynamics, great fun!

Apparently Luxman amps are well built (unlike MF) but no comments on sound quality. Good specs too.

DT

 

Thanks Luxman and Accuphase appeal and seem toget good reviews on here,I think the problemwith the LSA may be simply its size as its enormous but seems wel built and spec'd

 

Also look at Karan Acoustics, Leben, Sugden, Lavardin and Berning.

 

Must admit I loved the Lavardin integrateds had an is and it on loan for quite a while and really liked them.

 

AFAIk the Lavardins are very minimalist designs and not that flexible, particularly when compared against do-it-alls like Luxman. I do think some attention has to be paid to practicality.

Sugden is a safe bet because you could always shift it again quickly if you didn't like it.

Have to put a word in for the yanks while I'm here. Very happy with the performance of my amps, so it might be worth checking out the offerings from ARC (VSi55), BAT (VK300) and Rogue (Cronus?).

DT

 

Plinius also do some great Integrated amps.

 

Integrated

I would second the suggestion for BAT.
I own one for one year (with the 6922 tube gain stage).
I recently visit a friend who owns a Pass Labs system (with 2 600x5 monoblocs, 600 w each) and compared my amp and his on his Talons.
According to him, the BAT wasn't that far and to some extend better than a Pass Int 150.
Worth an audition

 

I notice, Pure Carbon , you have the Audio Zone monos, I was interested in those some time ago, how do you find them?

 

I like the Krell 300i

 

well i like my accuphase quite a lot but then i think its a bit higher than your aiming from the sound of your list.

the E-350 which is probably the best value integrated they do is worth looking into. Its got balls, but its refined with it.

I had the basic E-213 and didnt think it was anything special, a bit too restrained, but very detailed, was good with classical more than rock etc.

 

Had some listening sessions today,very interesting.was completely taken by the Luxman stuff.It is the first amp I think ,integrated, that I have heard that portrayed real grip and such a solid soundstage but the bass was excellent,really controlled but went way down as well without being boomy or uncontrolled. It was extremely musical I must admit it ticked all the boxes .Build quality was very good and the phono stage was way better than I expected .All round an excellent contender. Havent heard an accuphase yet but this so far is at the top of the list.

 

I don't like the LSA, it is hard sounding.

I'd second the BAT and Cambridge suggestions. I'd go for the Cambridge myself as it is more neutral and nicer to use.

 

Well I had a cambridge and an ASTINTREW IN THE LISTENING SESSION AND BOTH COULDNT COPE WITH SOME OF THE RECORDED MATERIAL TRIED.Sorry typing went a bit off there. They werent particularly complex pieces of music but with the Nuforces and the Luxman they were very defined andthe instruments were clearly defined,the Cambridge was blurred and noticeably so,the Astintrew similar and I just didnt like the Nuforce which was a bit disappointed as I had hoped I would like them. Its just one of these things ,its all personal taste at the end of the day.Dealer was excellent though and great vennue.I was there for 3 hours+ and at no point did I get rushed or if I asked for another piece of kit it was hooked up,nce relaxing session first one I have enjoyed for years.