Advice needed: Quality Integrated Amp

[Wheel_Audio]

Hello,

My nearly twenty-year-old NAD C 352 integrated amplifier is essentially kaput. The speakers it powered are rather hard to drive properly, so I'm looking for a replacement amp that's 4-ohm stable, preferably incorporating amplification from Hypex or Purifi. And--oh, yes--it's got to have analogue inputs. The NAD C 399 may seem like the obvious choice--actually, it could be the only one--but NAD no longer has a good reputation for reliability. Also, the C 399's "nCore" implementation seems outdated, especially for $2,900.

What say you all--are there any options I'm overlooking?

Thanks!

 

[DWPress]

Check out a WiiM product that offers your input needs and gives you adequate wattage for your low impedance speakers. You'll get streaming capabilities plus very good entry level room correction and multi-room capabilities. Or a WiiM Pro for the same reasons but powered but a Buckeye amp if you're in the US.

Not to be a WiiM fanboy, my main system is far more complex but the house system that everyone needs access to is pretty idiot proof with their excellent app and constant updates of capabilities.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Check out a WiiM product that offers your input needs and gives you adequate wattage for your low impedance speakers

Certainly not the Amp or Amp Pro that are unstable under 2R loads. The Amp Ultra is doing OK, but there's plenty of more powerful solutions. As some all-in-one solution, it's a bargain tho. BTW, we have absolutely no clue about what the "adequate wattage" is, since we know neither the speakers, the LP distance or the SPL needed.

 

[JSmith]

Denon PMA integrated amps may be worth a look... not Ncore or Purifi though, SINAD is usually around 75 - 85.


JSmith

 

[Redacted]

If you want an integrated amp using Hypex, and good user interface, check Cambridge Audio's Evo 150 SE (or the 300). Pricey, at £2k (target price), but a well-made item, and good support.

 

[BillH]

If you are open to separates you could get a wiim ultra or fossil s3 and a buckeye amp. It’s less money than integrated amps and, for the most part, more capable.

 

[Marc v E]

@Wheel_Audio what is your intended use:

-stereo only or multichannel?
-connecting a tv via hdmi?
-what speakers do you have?
-what is the listening distance?

Whatever you choose, from personal experience I would include the possibility to do eq and have a sub out.

 

[Wheel_Audio]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

My setup is a humble two-channel system in a decent-size apartment. Don't laugh--actually, feel free to laugh--but the speakers are the fairly fondly-remembered Roy Allison Labs Mini References, circa 1995. Yes, I'm more a music lover than a full-blown audiophile--that is, I'm more interested in the music itself than listening to the equipment used to produce it. Still, I recognize that there are occasions when a new technology seems to represent a meaningful advance, as is apparently the case with Hypex and Purifi.

Unfortunately, budget and space constraints are a stumbling block. (Indeed, of the two Cambridge Evos listed, only the $4,000 Evo 300 is rated for 4 ohms.) For me, even $2,000 would be quite the flex.

Best wishes!

 

[Chrispy]

Not a big fan of 2ch integrated amps due limited feature set, but the Wiim models look more attractive than most.

 

[Power Pop 23]

I second the recommendations for driving a WiiM Ultra preamp with a 2-channel Buckeye Amp - if the WiiM Ultra has the inputs you require and you can accommodate the 13 inch depth of a Buckeye enclosure. A WiiM Ultra can trigger a Buckeye Amp to automatically power up or down.

 

[Keith Flanker]

If integrated is a hard requirement, true Hypex/Purifi options under $2k are genuinely thin — which is why the pragmatic answer at your budget is separates: a Buckeye or Audiophonics Hypex/Purifi power amp plus any decent analog preamp. Those amps are rock solid into 4 ohm loads, have RCA and XLR inputs with switchable gain, and you avoid the reliability gamble you just had with NAD. For apartment-level listening, even an NC252MP-class amp (≈150W into 4 ohms) is likely plenty for the Allisons; step up to NCx500 or the 1ET6525SA only if you want big headroom. You can add a source switch or simple passive preamp now and upgrade the preamp later without touching the amp. That gets you clean modern amplification for well under your $2k ceiling.

 

[Marc v E]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

My setup is a humble two-channel system in a decent-size apartment. Don't laugh--actually, feel free to laugh--but the speakers are the fairly fondly-remembered Roy Allison Labs Mini References, circa 1995. Yes, I'm more a music lover than a full-blown audiophile--that is, I'm more interested in the music itself than listening to the equipment used to produce it. Still, I recognize that there are occasions when a new technology seems to represent a meaningful advance, as is apparently the case with Hypex and Purifi.

Unfortunately, budget and space constraints are a stumbling block. (Indeed, of the two Cambridge Evos listed, only the $4,000 Evo 300 is rated for 4 ohms.) For me, even $2,000 would be quite the flex.

Best wishes!

I'm pretty sure hypex or purify will not make the most difference on how your system will sound.

If you want a fresh start with amps I would recommend the Wiim amp ultra. If needed you could add an IOM hypex amp in matching case.

The reason I'm recommending this is that it's tremendous value for money and has 2 things that will make a real difference: a sub out and eq. It costs about 600 dollars and will also accomodate later upgrades in speakers. It will be easy to sell on should you want to because they are so popular.

This is your speakers frequency response which is actually pretty good. Imo the main area for improvement would be the bass, where a sub takes care of the low frequencies.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ra-labs-black-gold-mini-reference-loudspeaker-measurements See figure 4

 

[Wheel_Audio]

I second the recommendations for driving a WiiM Ultra preamp with a 2-channel Buckeye Amp - if the WiiM Ultra has the inputs you require and you can accommodate the 13 inch depth of a Buckeye enclosure. A WiiM Ultra can trigger a Buckeye Amp to automatically power up or down.

If integrated is a hard requirement, true Hypex/Purifi options under $2k are genuinely thin — which is why the pragmatic answer at your budget is separates: a Buckeye or Audiophonics Hypex/Purifi power amp plus any decent analog preamp. Those amps are rock solid into 4 ohm loads, have RCA and XLR inputs with switchable gain, and you avoid the reliability gamble you just had with NAD. For apartment-level listening, even an NC252MP-class amp (≈150W into 4 ohms) is likely plenty for the Allisons; step up to NCx500 or the 1ET6525SA only if you want big headroom. You can add a source switch or simple passive preamp now and upgrade the preamp later without touching the amp. That gets you clean modern amplification for well under your $2k ceiling.

Compelling ideas--I'Il consider them.

A question about Buckeye's offerings. The 2-channel Purifi 1ET6525SA is almost twice the price of the 2-channel Hypex NCx252MP. Why--is the Purifi worth the extra money? (I have heard that the Purifi's power efficiency is superior, an important consideration for me.)

 

[Marc v E]

Purify, Hypex or the amps in the Wiim ultra will sound exactly the same.

What the purify gives above all is pride of ownership, knowing you've got the best measured amp. Will you hear it? No.

The hypex is technically the lesser amp, but in day to day situations, when not overdriven, will sound the same.

 

[jhaider]

IMO Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 merits consideration. It looks nice and RoomPerfect is pretty good.

Also NAD M10, now that they offer Dirac Live Bass Control.

There are so few useful integrateds on the market, alas. (IMO the ideal integrated must have good room correction, as well as loudness compensation and native AirPlay reception capability; alas that product does not currently exist.)

 

[Wheel_Audio]

I'm pretty sure hypex or purify will not make the most difference on how your system will sound.

If you want a fresh start with amps I would recommend the Wiim amp ultra. If needed you could add an IOM hypex amp in matching case.

The reason I'm recommending this is that it's tremendous value for money and has 2 things that will make a real difference: a sub out and eq. It costs about 600 dollars and will also accomodate later upgrades in speakers. It will be easy to sell on should you want to because they are so popular.

This is your speakers frequency response which is actually pretty good. Imo the main area for improvement would be the bass, where a sub takes care of the low frequencies.

View attachment 556377

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ra-labs-black-gold-mini-reference-loudspeaker-measurements See figure 4

Yes, the Mini Reference was introduced in 1994 for $174, equivalent to $389 in 2026. Its performance had been considered phenomenal for such a compact, inexpensive speaker.

IMO Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 merits consideration. It looks nice and RoomPerfect is pretty good.

Also NAD M10, now that they offer Dirac Live Bass Control.

There are so few useful integrateds on the market, alas. (IMO the ideal integrated must have good room correction, as well as loudness compensation and native AirPlay reception capability; alas that product does not currently exist.)

Thanks for your suggestions. I looked up Lyngdorf, and was disappointed to find that the higher-end TDAI-3400 didn't perform particularly well (see part 1). Still, the follow-up (part 2) was interesting.

So far, I'm gravitating toward the Purifi 1ET6525SA and the Schiit Saga 2. We'll see. . . .

 

[Rit]

I second the recommendations for driving a WiiM Ultra preamp with a 2-channel Buckeye Amp - if the WiiM Ultra has the inputs you require and you can accommodate the 13 inch depth of a Buckeye enclosure. A WiiM Ultra can trigger a Buckeye Amp to automatically power up or down.

WiiM ultra paired with Buckeye 1et6525s amplifier, great sound.