Poll: Best Looking Stereo Integrated Amp

[watchnerd]

Icon Audio Stereo 300 MK II

 

[Robin L]

Scott 299b:

 

[Doodski]

Scott 299b:

View attachment 98007

That looks like the front panel is modelled after a old Fisher integrated amp. It has a classic non-blingy look and a good layout.

 

[watchnerd]

Right at the budget edge at $9900.

Allnic T-2000 2th Anniversary

 

[Doodski]

Icon Audio Stereo 300 MK II

At first I thought it to be just another of many tube amps but it has remote control and it does look industrial which I like.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Right at the budget edge at $9900.

Allnic T-2000 2th Anniversary

A little too gaudy and contrived to me.

 

[Doodski]

Right at the budget edge at $9900.

Allnic T-2000 2th Anniversary

It looks like something from a laboratory. Which is a compliment.

 

[Robin L]

That looks like the front panel is modelled after a old Fisher integrated amp. It has a classic non-blingy look and a good layout.

Owned one, without the walnut case. Wonderful sounding, old-school, low-power tube amp. Loved the phono section. Love the look. However, you'll want this to play LPs only, isn't much good for anything else, as modern line outputs tend to overload the 299b and dubbing off the tape outs makes the bass go away.

 

[GDK]

Right at the budget edge at $9900.

Allnic T-2000 2th Anniversary

I think that’s actually a model of a nuclear power plant.

 

[Blumlein 88]

For over the top how about this VAC? 450 watts and everything you want. Alas it is way, way, way over-budget.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Owned one, without the walnut case. Wonderful sounding, old-school, low-power tube amp. Loved the phono section. Love the look. However, you'll want this to play LPs only, isn't much good for anything else, as modern line outputs tend to overload the 299b and dubbing off the tape outs makes the bass go away.

You can fix those issues pretty easy.

 

[Vincent Kars]

You surely have a system in each bathroom, don't you Frank?

If not, this is the one to go for

 

[watchnerd]

A little too gaudy and contrived to me.

I like the metal work, but I agree it's a little busy.

But the real issue is that it has very few features. It has a remote...and that's about it. Not even a phono stage.

 

[restorer-john]

Going strictly off appearances it seems retro and too simple. Needs more bling.

Nah. It's just gorgeous.

3 digital, USB, BT, two line inputs and a phono stage plus defeatable tone stage, balance, headphones and full remote.

What's not to like??

 

[Frank Dernie]

Some of the brand marketing is crazy.

Line Magnetic offers amps from $500 to $27,000.

I expect the expensive ones available at similar prices in "the west" where more expensive = more betterer whereas the less expensive ones are home market (and probably just as good)
When my mate tested the one he checked for safety for me he said it was as good as any 40W EL34 amp and iirc it was around £1000 for the amp, CD player, interconnects and speaker cable and shipping.

 

[Frank Dernie]

Going strictly off appearances it seems retro and too simple. Needs more bling.

Certainly retro, it looks like thr stereo 30, one of the "amps to have" 50 years ago if you couldn't afford a Quad 33/303 here in the UK.
There was pretty well no imported gear back then.

 

[Feanor]

Gotta say that I've never been impressed by any of those "tubes on top of a box" amplifiers ... especially if the the box happens to be chrome.

I'll cast another vote for the Anthem STR ...
.

 

[Deleted member 65]

Entry level Burmester, 5.5k GBP in UK.

 

[Kuppenbender]

Less than $80 and they throw in the (matching) speakers for free!

https://www.metersmusic.com/cubed-black

 

[Doodski]

Going strictly off appearances it seems retro and too simple. Needs more bling.

It does have many features for the price. I think I like it better without the wood case. There doesn't appear to be a subsonic filter(again). I could not find the manual for it to check for a subsonic and the specs don't mention anything. I thought this was a search for less than $10,000 USD based on appearances and bling. This bad boy is like US$1195.00 (exceptional value for sure) and only 2 x 45W (8ohm)/2x65W (4ohm). For a statement piece that's pretty low power output.