Poll: Best Looking Stereo Integrated Amp

[Doodski]

Wait, can something without VUs actually qualify here? If so, why on earth?

Minimalism is not more in this case I think. It's got to be snazzy, have meters and lots of trick lighting.

 

[bomhifi]

Add Thrax Enyo for cool factor, sub 10K though but again can probably get it under 10K with discount. Auditioned these with Thrax Lyra Speakers and were pretty good. Tons of detail like a good Solid-State amp but with great holography because it is a Tube amp. Digital module with Roon-Ready and Phono module as options. This is the most forward-thinking and modern looking TUBE amp IMHO. 50 watts push-pull.

 

[Doodski]

Add Thrax Enyo for cool factor, sub 10K though but again can probably get it under 10K with discount. Auditioned these with Thrax Lyra Speakers and were pretty good. Tons of detail like a good Solid-State amp but with great holography because it is a Tube amp. Digital module with Roon-Ready and Phono module as options. This is the most forward-thinking and modern looking TUBE amp IMHO. 50 watts push-pull.

View attachment 97553

I think the cool factor is missing but it appears to be a nice unit.

 

[bomhifi]

Nice unit indeed. Thrax pays homage to Western Electric as source of inspiration among others: http://thrax.bg/Philosophy.php

The cool factor for me is the very modern minimalist exterior and modern features but with an all tube and somewhat “old-school” inspired circuitry.

 

[Ilkless]

Jeff Rowland Design Group, Continuum S2. Optional DAC, optional phono and optional headphone amp. Twin ultra-high efficiency power conversion modules yield 400 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, doubling over 4 Ohms, and a peak current of 40 Amps.

Actually second the Rowland. Sucker for the striped metal.

 

[FooYatChong]

Not that expensive but I like the design.

 

[Duckeenie]

Gato Audio. Their stereo integrated amps are all under € 4K and they offer free worldwide shipping and a 30-day trial
View attachment 97542

Classy! Presumably one removes the volume knob to get to the whisky.

 

[digitalfrost]

When it comes to cool factor, nothing beats huge VU meters IMHO. So with your budget, McIntosh is an obvious choice.



Also interesting the Yamaha A-S3000 (also available in black):


Advance Acoustic:



And right on budget, the Luxman L-509X:



Each picture is clickable

 

[watchnerd]

Add Thrax Enyo for cool factor, sub 10K though but again can probably get it under 10K with discount. Auditioned these with Thrax Lyra Speakers and were pretty good. Tons of detail like a good Solid-State amp but with great holography because it is a Tube amp. Digital module with Roon-Ready and Phono module as options. This is the most forward-thinking and modern looking TUBE amp IMHO. 50 watts push-pull.

View attachment 97553

That looks like a power amp....it's an integrated?

 

[watchnerd]

When it comes to cool factor, nothing beats huge VU meters IMHO. So with your budget, McIntosh is an obvious choice.



Also interesting the Yamaha A-S3000 (also available in black):


Advance Acoustic:



And right on budget, the Luxman L-509X:

View attachment 97567

Each picture is clickable

I think the catalog photo doesn't do the Luxman justice

 

[bomhifi]

That Luxman is a beauty and yes the Thrax Enyo is an integrated.

 

[bomhifi]

Almost forgot about the Einstein Audio The Amp Ultimate Integrated

 

[Dj7675]

I have seen one McIntosh but I would go up to something along these lines... 200w should be plenty of power that you would ever need.

 

[M00ndancer]

The AS3000 Yamaha would get my vote, bit it might be too understated?

 

[MediumRare]

I have seen one McIntosh but I would go up to something along these lines... 200w should be plenty of power that you would ever need.View attachment 97580

I have an earlier version of this (MA6900). It is a beast. I run it at 20 w sustained sometimes more (parties) for extended periods and it barely gets warm. I would never go less that 200 wpc (this peaks at 385 as tested) if you have a decent sized room. Remember, you need 10x power headroom for dynamics/transients. Full featured remote. Nearly 20 years old, Looks perfectly new, could sell it for same as I paid for it.

 

[Dj7675]

I have an earlier version of this (MA6900). It is a beast. I run it at 20 w sustained sometimes more (parties) for extended periods and it barely gets warm. I would never go less that 200 wpc (this peaks at 385 as tested) if you have a decent sized room. Full featured remote. Nearly 20 years old, Looks perfectly new, could sell it for same as I paid for it.

I had the MA7900 and really liked it. Ended up selling it so I could easier add subwoofer and room eq. Some day McIntosh needs to do an integrated with subwoofer/crossover out, and roomperfect built in...

 

[Frank Dernie]

I already have a Devialet Expert.

It's even more minimalist and more French.

That would be recommendation anyway

 

[MediumRare]

I had the MA7900 and really liked it. Ended up selling it so I could easier add subwoofer and room eq. Some day McIntosh needs to do an integrated with subwoofer/crossover out, and roomperfect built in...

Subs not a big deal, you can use the Pre-out and loop back or choose a sub that takes speaker-level inputs and run off the same speaker taps. I use the second output for that but you can use the same tap as the main speakers too.

 

[Dj7675]

Subs not a big deal, you can use the Pre-out and loop back or choose a sub that takes speaker-level inputs and run off the same speaker taps. I use the second output for that but you can use the same tap as the main speakers too.

Yes, that certainly is a valid way to do it. I still would rather have a sub out with crossover in the integrated amp. I actually used a DDRC24 via the preouts/loop back in to add dirac/sub crossover to the MA7900. Worked pretty well. Lots of ways to get things to work for sure.

 

[ahofer]

I like the one built into my KEF wireless speakers.