Which integrated amplifier has the best measurements for sub £2k (ish)

[Jim.d]

I'm very new to this forum, was considering the Hegel H95 until I read the review!

I have a Quad Vena II which I'm very happy with, and I had an Audiolab 6000a for a short time, which I thought sounded better than the Quad. I'm looking for a new amp in the sub £2k range (ish) for another room & will probably end up getting the Audiolab 6000a with a streamer. It's hard to read between the lines with amp reviews and sound is somewhat subjective to the listener so I'm wondering which amps have the best independent measurements for THD and other things? I don't want to end up getting something like the Hegel which actually performs badly. Do the Naim and NAD amps perform well on measurements? Is the Audiolab actually the best in the price range? Am I being suggested the Naim amps to pair with my Focals because they have the same suppliers?

Reviews are a minefield and I'm new to these sort of independent measurements, help me get further down the rabbit hole

Thanks for your help!

 

[Jim.d]

sorry, seen this is in the headphone amp forum, I don't know how to delete it or move

 

[antcollinet]

I'm very new to this forum, was considering the Hegel H95 until I read the review!

I have a Quad Vena II which I'm very happy with, and I had an Audiolab 6000a for a short time, which I thought sounded better than the Quad. I'm looking for a new amp in the sub £2k range (ish) for another room & will probably end up getting the Audiolab 6000a with a streamer. It's hard to read between the lines with amp reviews and sound is somewhat subjective to the listener so I'm wondering which amps have the best independent measurements for THD and other things? I don't want to end up getting something like the Hegel which actually performs badly. Do the Naim and NAD amps perform well on measurements? Is the Audiolab actually the best in the price range? Am I being suggested the Naim amps to pair with my Focals because they have the same suppliers?

Reviews are a minefield and I'm new to these sort of independent measurements, help me get further down the rabbit hole

Thanks for your help!

You first need to ask yourself what you are hoping to gain with your £2K expenditure?

Certainly the 6000a is not a significant upgrade from the Quad you already have. I can't find independent measurements, but based on manufacturer specs, both amps are already good enough for noise and distortion to be inaudible in real-world listening.

Indeed - your Quad is already good enough that comparing against pretty much any other amp (within power limits of the quad and done properly controlled for perceptive bias) - audible differences (if any) will be so slight as to be meaningless to listening enjoyment.

Even the power difference is insignificant, being only around 0.5dB (an inaudible change).

I would suggest you need to stick with the Quad - unless you want to go up significantly in power - and then you would have to be looking at more like 200W at 8ohm for it to be meaningful, and I'd be suggesting Hypex or Purify power amps with streaming preamp such as the wiim ultra as the best way forward.

Otherwise, invest the money in speakers, room treatment, or room equalisation instead - which is where audio quality improvements are to be found.

Am I being suggested the Naim amps to pair with my Focals because they have the same suppliers?

This advice is nonsense.

Reviews are a minefield and I'm new to these sort of independent measurements, help me get further down the rabbit hole

They are - any review that doen't measure and only "listens" should be ignored. You've come to the right place to get help. Ask away.