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Post by robbiegong on Feb 28, 2021 18:10:25 GMT
I've always had older vintage AMPS, Like Technics and Sansui for example. Integrated amps have always been very popular. I personally like the convenience of few boxes so big, powerful integrateds with good built in phono stages tend to float my boat. I sneak a look at some of todays offerings from time to time and although I've never heard them, I see Arcam, Cambridge Audio, Musical Fidelity amogst others. The Musical Fidelity M6si looks interesting, as do the recent Yamaha's, so AS 1100, 1200, AS 2100, 2200 & AS 3000, 3200 Anyone have experience of these or using a modern integrated ??    
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Post by mikeyb on Feb 28, 2021 23:00:28 GMT
Watch out for the Yamaha AS3000 reliability issues, I had a good read up on these not long ago and there were issues with them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2021 23:04:55 GMT
I use this. I can honestly say that it sounds as good as my old naim separates. So long as it's on Direct. Start messing with the tone controls and it turns to cack. I've heard some damn good integs nowadays if you spend a reasonable amount to get past the cheap muck. .  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 28, 2021 23:20:04 GMT
Vintage integrateds scare the Sh#t outta me.
The reliability of them is hit and miss and if they fail...you know the part you need is gonna be unobtainable.
Then it's just a pretty doorstop.
I adore the looks of the vintage Jap amps and would love to spend some serious "Dollar" on a very special amp.....but that will never happen.
Great bits of engineering and proper eye candy.
Modern day stuff would have to be something special to catch my attention and then I just don't think it could offer me something.... anything, better than I have now.
Build quality is also a concern as mot of it is usually an empty box!
I will be adding an amplifier to the shopping list as I want something for the garage, but it won't be fancy. Just decent....maybe I'll try and get another NAD 312.
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Post by antonio on Mar 1, 2021 0:33:04 GMT
Off the top of my head Yamaha, Denon and Luxman sprang to the top, quickly followed by Hegel. I'm assuming a budget of up to £2500 including 2nd hand, Yamaha get some great feedback from owners on the forums I read, just ask Engine on here about his Denon and Luxman is known for build and sound quality. Compared to previous amps mentioned Hegel are the new kids on the block, but they do come with a decent dac, are good sounding, if a little dryer, and well reviewed.
Naim and Exposure everyone's heard of, Primare and to save misterc having to mention them Belles, never heard them myself, but again great reviews. The list could go on and that is without any valves.
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Post by macca on Mar 1, 2021 7:39:52 GMT
old Naima and Exposure have their charms but I find them a bit edgy-sounding, can't relax to their sound.
Recent Exposure - bland and uninvolving, Not heard recent Naim.
Luxman old or new can't fault them but it's deep pockets time.
Rega - competent but over-rated and starting to look over-priced.
Denon - hit and miss, some are good, some are just meh.
I like the look of the latest Yamaha stuff but have a suspicion it will be a bit safe and bland. Could be surprised there though.
Of the dozens of integrated amps I've had I'd still put the old NAD I'm using now at the top of the pile.
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Post by macca on Mar 1, 2021 7:41:12 GMT
I'm tempted by early 1980s JVC, supposed to be their peak, got my eye on one.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 1, 2021 7:53:26 GMT
I'm tempted by early 1980s JVC, supposed to be their peak, got my eye on one. there was a JVC integrated that has been lauded by the forumites but i can't remember which one it is...i'll see if i can find it. They said it was a pretty special unit. EDIT*** Here it is: JVC AX-Z1010TN SPEC: Power output: 100 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo) Frequency response: 5Hz to 100kHz Total harmonic distortion: 0.004% Damping factor: 200 Input sensitivity: 0.3mV (MC), 4mV (MM), 300mV (line) Signal to noise ratio: 71dB (MC), 89dB (MM), 112dB (line) Output: 300mV (line) Digital inputs: coaxial, optical Dimensions: 435 x 173 x 459mm Weight: 16.8kg good luck finding one lol |
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Post by macca on Mar 1, 2021 8:31:24 GMT
Not too hard to get a Z1010 they come up every now and then as there was a whole bunch of them sold as NOS about 10 years ago. They are from the early 1990s.
The one I'm looking at is from 1983. Not as powerful, no built-in DAC.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 1, 2021 10:50:25 GMT
I've had a Hegel H90, good but an insistently bright edge that drove me crazy after a while.
Heard a big Luxman at a friend's and at Scalford. Too bright again. The friend agreed after a while and moved it on.
A Crayon something or other pleased for a while but ended up a bit boring.
I seem to prefer to mix and match pre and power to get the sound I want.
But macca intrigued me with his tale of his NAD integrated, and I have a C325BEE on the way.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 1, 2021 11:40:29 GMT
I don't know if it holds true for modern integrateds, but the big mutha Rotel 1412 vintage integrated I had was very much a game of two halves.
The power section was just straight forward good, it slotted impressively well into a modern system with neutral clarity and control.
The pre section was where all the vintage character came from, it definitely gave the whole amp a rose tinted soft golden glow.
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dt79
Junior Member
Posts: 343
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Post by dt79 on Mar 1, 2021 11:55:43 GMT
A shout out for Lyngdorf amps here, which give you built in room correction. The fact that it works entirely in the digital domain might not appeal to some people, but if you can get your head around that then well worth looking in to. I couldn't be happier with my TDAI-2170 (recently discontinued, but s/h within budget). The new '1120 is a little down on power and flexibility but has a built in streamer for ~£2K.
These things are just utterly transparent, double their power into 4ohm, and RoomPerfect is just an absolute game changer, not only for helping your speakers work with your room whilst not changing their character,, but also seamlessly integrating subs should you wish.
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Post by stevew on Mar 1, 2021 14:10:12 GMT
A shout out for Lyngdorf amps here, which give you built in room correction. The fact that it works entirely in the digital domain might not appeal to some people, but if you can get your head around that then well worth looking in to. I couldn't be happier with my TDAI-2170 (recently discontinued, but s/h within budget). The new '1120 is a little down on power and flexibility but has a built in streamer for ~£2K. These things are just utterly transparent, double their power into 4ohm, and RoomPerfect is just an absolute game changer, not only for helping your speakers work with your room whilst not changing their character,, but also seamlessly integrating subs should you wish. It’s only you an me giving the love for Lyngdorf round these parts I’m afraid Dan. Superb bits of kit. I’ve tried a few other amps, but nothing to oust it. Might well try a valve amp in my second system so will have the opportunity to compare one day. Mine is the TDAI 2200 with Room Perfect. Getting on a bit now. Had a problem a few years ago when the power switch packed in, sent it back to Lyngdorf, and they fixed that and updated the software and checked everything else out. Think it cost me £150 or summat. I occasionally switch the room perfect off... then switch it straight back in again. |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 1, 2021 15:15:13 GMT
I used to have a thing going with Lyngdorf/Tact 2175 integrated amps. That was a few years back.
Wonderful natural tonality and good rez, real powerhouses, too, but they were typical of the higher powered class D amps of the time and rather smoothed over dynamically imo.
I've not heard a Lyngdorf amp since then.
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 1, 2021 21:23:28 GMT
Watch out for the Yamaha AS3000 reliability issues, I had a good read up on these not long ago and there were issues with them. Yes, I'd read that some owners had had issues with their AS 3000. Overall I've read good things about those amps - AS 1100, 1200, 2100, 2200, 3000, 3200 They are beautifully built, the VU's will obviously be an acquired taste, but we know there are many who love those. I think they look cool here, plus the wood sides. Presentation is said to be tilted slightly upwards in the upper mids which will be fine for some but not suit others. I believe Paul on another forum just got himself an AS 3000 and is very much enjoying it. |
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 1, 2021 21:29:07 GMT
Staying on the modern integrated's theme - The Musical Fidelity M6si gets very good reviews and is said to be very well built and solid.
Good onboard mm/mc stage with powerful, balanced presentation. 220 wpc too ! Would love to hear one
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 3, 2021 21:32:42 GMT
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Post by macca on Mar 3, 2021 21:48:24 GMT
That slot along the bottom ruins the look of it for me, otherwise it's not bad styling for a modern amp. The Japs should get a look in. Accuphase E800 -  |
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Post by antonio on Mar 4, 2021 0:16:42 GMT
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Post by macca on Mar 4, 2021 6:59:09 GMT
Yes the Lux are tasty, good sound too. I prefer the meters on the Accuphase thought. And always been a sucker for the 'champagne' finish.
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 4, 2021 21:12:38 GMT
Very nice amps indeed the Accuphase and Luxman but at £15kGBP and £7KGBP, they're likely too high end in price as well for most audiophiles. The types of modern amps I've referred are more realistically attainable for most of us, get good reviews - £2-3k approx range I guess, and definitely on the used market. Be good to hear from anyone who has what I call one of these reasonably priced high-end modern day amps. There's enough online about these things but can you ever find an owner/user on the forums you partake - tis strange....  |
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 4, 2021 21:19:39 GMT
Marantz Model 30 is another new integrated that reads as very good ...   |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 4, 2021 21:56:33 GMT
Marantz Model 30 is another new integrated that reads as very good ... Oh that's a good looking unit |
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Post by antonio on Mar 5, 2021 0:53:04 GMT
^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree with Bigman.
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Post by macca on Mar 5, 2021 7:08:01 GMT
It's not a bad look in the silver-gold but I think it's over-designed. Trying too hard.
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Post by nonuffin on Mar 5, 2021 9:40:14 GMT
This is the exact dilemna I am facing at the moment. My missus wants me to buy new but every amp I want is well beyond my budget.
I am currently running an old Yamaha AS-201 and that sounds better than I expected it to sound. Having said that, I wouldn't run a cheap source into it, as that determines the overall sound quality and resolution.
I have yet to own any Musical Fidelity amp that I was happy with and that includes the Trivista 300. All the crap given out that the light up feet were telling you that the amp had warmed up to the correct operating temperature was a lie, as it was on a simple timer circuit which operated whenever the amp was powered on.
I will also say that Sony amps have similarly disappointed me, but Trio amps have been a delight, the best of which was the KA-80. I recently bought an old KA-74 for our community centre and that was a good little amp with 75wpc on tap that easily coped with two sets of speakers in large rooms.
Parasound gets my vote too. I bought a Halo pre some years ago and was thrilled with it, until one day it started distorting so I sent it to the distributor for repair. Despite it being only a couple of years old they couldn't repair it and sent me a brand new replacement, which to me didn't sound as good.
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Post by misterc on Mar 5, 2021 10:16:21 GMT
I agree with Dominic, never had an MF that has really matched any review. We also repair quite a few of their products regularly. YMMV
The Parasound is powerful beast and quite capable, the Marantz does look good in an up to date basic way.
Luxman can be really good IF you have the right speakers, Accuphase the Japanese version of Meridian (sound wise) but in a far more appealing package, some of the early transport dacs were very nice. Personally I find a touch slow and safe, however it is quality equipment without question and has a lot of happy owners.
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 5, 2021 16:08:41 GMT
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Post by macca on Mar 5, 2021 17:08:05 GMT
looks pretty good in the black.
The original Caspian CD player and amp I thought were very good, heard them at a dealers about 20 odd years ago now. Couldn't afford to buy them. I couldn't afford to buy a toaster back then lol. That's about the limit of my experience with Roksan kit.
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Post by misterc on Mar 5, 2021 17:52:36 GMT
Roksan was purchased by Monitor audio a few years ago, they have one or two good pieces in their portfolio for sure
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