(Vol.42 Nos.1 & 4 WWW), CH Precision I1 Universal Integrated Amplifier: $38,000$52,000 (Vol.44 No.1 WWW), Cary Audio SLI-100: $5995 McIntosh's namesake black faceplates claim an equally famous pedigree. The Best Integrated Amplifiers of 2023 - Gear Patrol He noted that Ultralinear operation offers "the lowest midrange distortion and the highest power, at the expense of a higher output impedance than triode mode." Editors' Choice: My Favorite Integrated Amplifiers of 2022 - eCoustics . (Vol.42 No.8 WWW), Cambridge Audio CXA81: $1299 $$$ Mike Garry, owner of Hudson Valley HiFi, reveals the most popular vintage receivers and amplifiers that people are buying. Cynical readers might expect less than the best sound from such a humble thingand indeed, during his time with the C 328, KM found a few recordings that coaxed from it a bit of treble harshness, and a few others that lost a bit of flesh and blood on their trip through the NAD. Basslines are taut enough, nicely textured and are delivered with a convincing sense of power. Best integrated amplifiers for 2023 - Crutchfield . What are the Best Amplifiers in the World? | Audioholics 2023 McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. (JA's measurements suggest that the latter will work best with high-impedance cans.) JA's measurements revealed output power that was less than the manufacturer's specs. MA252 Integrated Amplifier. (Vol.43 No.1 WWW), Naim Audio Uniti Nova: $5990 HR summed up his auditioning, "The Marantz Model 30 integrated suits my taste for simple sophistication. The output section is biased for class-AB and employs 4dB of negative feedback. Using both Polk and Quad loudspeakers, the amplifier "consistently created a large, atmospheric soundstage with solid images." (Vol.42 No.7 WWW), McIntosh MAC7200: $7500 The company should do better here. Detail levels are good and the general character retains the listenability we so like from the analogue inputs. Playing his favorite extreme-bass test track, ""Electrified II" by Yello, with his demanding Wilson Alexia 2 speakers, he wrote that "even if [the Musical Fidelity's] bass wasn't as gut-shaking even if the soundstage didn't seem to reach out to me and gobble me up body and soulit sounded really good." Its digital input seemed more articulate and vivacious." Oddly I though the remote was especially good, not at all creeky. Deletions Compared with the more expensive, "fully loaded" Schiit Ragnarok 2, the CXA81 had better top-end air, a slightly wider and deeper soundstage and a more laid-back presentation; the Schiit amp offered better tone, slightly better drive, and more intimacy. (Vol.43 No.11, Vo.44 No.4 WWW), Jadis Orchestra Black: $4295 Analogue inputs 6x single ended RCA, 1x balanced XLR, Digital inputs USB Type B, coax x2, optical x2, HDMI (ARC), MCT. (Vol.43 Nos.9 & 11 WWW), Aesthetix MIMAS: $7500 plus options #1 Campbell Saddler Used Bin Explorer Location: United States Since you are moving on from an Elite receiver, you could try the MA6200 integrated amp (no autoformers, but very versatile and warm-sounding when fully up to specs): http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/MA6200.htm McIntosh. In 2018 the Sprout underwent a redesign and was christened the Sprout100. Woo Audio WA5 (2nd Gen): $5899 AD praised the XM5 for its freedom from upper-frequency etch and found its phono performance, though temporally precise, a bit dull: "CD playback, through its line stage, was more colorful and vibrant," he said. This most recent version of Cary's longstanding SLI-80 vacuum tube integrated amplifierthe HS stands for Heritage Seriesdeparts from its forebears with a solid-staterectified power supply and switch-selectable output architectures: Given an 8 ohm load, its KT88 tetrode tubes can generate 40Wpc in triode mode or 80Wpc in Ultralinear mode. The styling of this well-finished, hot-running integrated amplifier evokes memories of the Japanese company's "Natural Sound" receivers from the 1970s. McIntosh MA252 tube/solid-state: Review - Part-Time Audiophile Intermodulation distortion was not excessive. Technical Editor JA noted that the Krell has "just sufficient heatsinking for its power rating" (it shut itself down while undergoing preconditioning), and excessive digital-input gain, the latter associated with the introduction of low-level spuriae, but was pleased that the K-300i exceeded its rated output power (190Wpc instead of 150Wpc). See JMu's review elsewhere in this issue. And I'll recommend seven of the best integrated amplifiers I've tried. The A14MKII is an updated version of Rotel's best-selling A14 integrated amplifier that has a lot of power under the hood. In addition to McIntosh's traditional blue level meters and an excellent FM stage, it offers S/PDIF and USB digital inputs, line and MC/MM phono analog inputs, and a headphone output. Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity has named the MC312 Amplifier their Best Stereo Power Amplifier of 2019. should earn it pride of place in many a system." remote. In our experience, it isnt hard to identify the optimum option. . KM preferred triode mode, finding that while Ultralinear made the sound more immediate and upfront, there was "a smidgen's loss of delicacy." (Vol.43 No.2 WWW). It has a large scale, effortless sound that is inviting and ever so easy on the ears. AmpandSound Bigger Ben: $4950 "But driving the modest Zu Audio Soul Supremes, it will play Mahler's Symphony No.5 as performed by the Berlin Philharmoniker under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle with dark, moody vigor and delicious, microdetailed insights." The M33 was both Stereophile's Amplification Component of 2020 and the magazine's overall Product of 2020. MA252 (1) Quick View. (Vol.41 No.5 WWW), Marantz Model 30: $2499 $$$ AD wrote that the Black initially had "that treble lisp that I assume many of you have heard from amps and preamps that aren't yet run inaudible here as an exaggeration of note attacks from violins," but found that as the amplifier broke in, it became considerably more listenable, though still slightly on the dry side. Paired with the excellent Revel Ultima2 Salon2 loudspeakers, the Levinson made enchanting music." Anthem STR: $4499 $$$ In a review that proved controversial, AD praised Peachtree Audio for the nova300's excellent phono section and for its overall good momentum and drive, but criticized the graininess of its treble range. No tricks. I lifted the component out and noticed there was a rectangle of pink foam surrounding the tube section. It is a serious, high-value music-playing machine." And even though KM never really warmed to using its tone controlsthough he admired the "very smooth, finely graded" adjustments they providedhe concluded that the L-509X was "one of the most intimate-sounding, dynamic, texturally nuanced, truthful purveyors of music of my experience." The Expert 140 Pro comes with an "unusual" remote controla large volume knob and three small buttons; alternatively, the user can download Devialet's smartphone/tablet-friendly Devialet Expert Remote app. . After measuring the Brio, JA praised in particular the "superb" overload margins of its phono section, and declared the amp "well-sorted" overall, although he did note that it runs hot. Used with a CD transport, the RR2160's Burr-Brownbased DAC didn't reach the same performance heights as more expensive outboard processors, yet nonetheless surprised Herb with its "unfettered verity." Writing from his lab, JA found that the L-509X "comfortably exceeded" its output-power specs, and declared the amp "a conservatively engineered design, with low noise and distortion and an excellent phono stage." As JA discovered, the Ayre allowed singing voices a fine sense of presence, consistently projecting them forward in the soundstagealthough that was judged "too much of a good thing" with overcooked recordings. Here's a quick, wide selection round-up of the feature-packed, best integrated amplifiers for Hi-Fi stereo systems to look out for in 2022. The words integrated amplifier are scarcely adequate to this task: The compact (only 8.5" wide) NAD M10 incorporates the BluOS operating system/music playback app; network, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity; analog and digital inputs; support for Tidal, Qobuz, et al. In addition to the four output pentodes, the Cary uses four small-signal tubestwo 6922s, two 6SN7sand splits the signal phase with a cathodyne ("split-load") phase inverter, for which HR expressed preference when compared with the more common long-tailed pair/dual-differential stages. On the test bench, the V3 didn't quite meet its specified power, clipping at 96Wpc into 8 ohms, and the phono stage's RIAA equalization was slightly mismatched between the channels, with the right channel up to 0.9dB higher in level in the treble than the left. . So sweet and a joy to listen too. Derived from the Jadis Orchestra Reference Mk.II integrated amplifier ($4795) that AD reviewed in December 2015, the Orchestra Black is a less-expensive version developed for the US market. The MA8950 is about as well equipped a high-end integrated amplifier as we have seen. The McIntosh MA252 is a multi-award-winning hybrid integrated amplifier that combines a vacuum tube preamp seamlessly with a solid-state power amplifier, giving you the best of both worlds. Running with lie mode streamer inthe the McDAC and the harbeth p3esr xev and a real sub it is a sublime set up. The Cambridge's digital inputs were consistently satisfying, though not in the class of KM's reference BorderPatrol DAC, which costs 50% more than this DAC-equipped integrated amp. Support for Roon, Qobuz, and Tidalthe latter two via UPnPis also built in. However, for the December 2017 Stereophile AD wrote a Follow-Up based on a second sample of the nova300, which he tried with the very contemporary Wharfedale Diamond 225 speakers. It has both legs between the richness of the old Mac sound and the cleanliness of the modern Mac sound-the best of both worlds. The voltage amplification tube is a 6H1N/6N1P dual triode (equivalent to a 6922/6DJ8). No digital inputs, but the Marantz has a versatile, low-noise, low-distortion phono stage that offers a moving magnet mode and three moving coil modes, labeled MC Low, MC Mid, and MC High, and different combinations of gain and resistive loading. McIntosh MA12000 Integrated Amplifier . It served up good helpings of what Art Dudley called drive.'" Our own amp and pre-amp selection represents today's best, at great prices - so get shopping and make your inner audiophile happy. Writing of his experiences in measuring the Anthem STR, JA called it "a well-engineered amplifier offering high powers and respectable measured performance." Switching to Catch A Fire by Bob Marley and the Wailers shows that the McIntosh is able to change gear when required. (The RIAA correction incorporates the IEC-recommended low-frequency rolloff, reaching 3dB at 30Hz.) McIntosh MA252 review | What Hi-Fi? The remarkably heavy (51lb) INT-25 is essentially a Pass XA25 power ampclass-A push-pull without degenerative feedback and offering 25Wpcwedded to a minimalist line-level preamp. Apart from bemoaning its "complex" setup scheme, JCA considered the Expert 140 Pro "an easy recommendation." Refinements include an increase in power, to 50Wpc into 8 ohms/100Wpc into 4 ohmsthe latter spec surely the source of its nameand an ESS Sabre DAC chip that bumps up resolution from 24/192 to 24/384. But, let us make things clear: everything works and nothing feels as though it will fall off, even with a decade's worth of use. Height, 9.5in, X Width, 17.5in, X Depth, 22in. Through his DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93s, the ASR produced a grand sense of scale, a very good sense of flesh and blood, and stirring musicality; from AD's Quad ESLs the ASR teased momentum, clarity, touch, impact, electronic gunklessness, and the snappiest bass he's ever heard from those speakers. KM's verdict: "the Uniti Nova is practically a bargain. In absolute terms, the digital module is broadly on a par with the likes of the Chord Mojo 2 when it comes to performance. Do that and you will find that the MA8950s natural tonality is on the slightly full and smooth side of neutral without going too far. Best of all, this stylish new Marantz is a well-tuned, supertransparent, superdetailed class-D amplifier that powered diverse loudspeakers with a captivating elan worthy of its Model 30' heritage." The selectable HXD (Headphone Crossfeed Director) processing mode, which attempts to emulate the soundstage perspective of speakers through the headphones, works pretty well, though it sacrifices a little crispness and precision on the way. Above it you will find a line of five rotary controls that govern the amplifier's tonality, each looking after a specific band of frequencies. Only one analog input (RCA) is provided, and it can be programmed to serve as an MM/MC phono stagealthough all incoming signals are processed in the digital domain. McIntosh Integrated Amps (& One Receiver) - Audio Emporium England and Wales company registration number 2008885. No short cuts. Streaming Tidal and Qobuz files through the Quad's USB input, HR heard "a greater sense of force and density" than with his reference standalone DAC, but it was the CD player that Herb concluded was "the Artera Solus's raison d'tre," noting that, "In my house, streaming usually sounds better than CDbut not with the Artera Solus." It has seven line-level inputs, one of which is balanced. (Vol.42 No.6 WWW), Luxman SQ-N150: $2795 (Vol.44 No.1 WWW), Mark Levinson No.5805: $8500 We are of the opinion that high-end integrated amplifiers should pack in every feature that prospective customers are likely to need. The McIntosh MA8950 combines a generous spec sheet with an articulate and composed sound. Created in time for Cambridge Audio's 50th anniversary, the Edge A charts newish territory: a combination D/A processor-integrated amplifier designed and built to perfectionist standards, offered at a considerable though less-than-extortionate price. But ultimately, when shifting from critical listening to simple enjoyment, JCA found the No.5805 to be "captivating, distracting . This transparency was achieved without the presentation sounding clinical or etched: "The Shinai has the spirit of a revealer. JA's measurements uncovered lower than specified output power270mWpc at 1% THD, 2.275Wpc at 3% THDas well as distressingly high output impedance. Once we give the McIntosh a few days to settle it delivers almost exactly what we hoped it would. (Vol.40 Nos.6 & 12 WWW), PS Audio Sprout100: $699 $$$ McIntosh MA5300 Integrated Amplifier "Bass had more force and bite," he wrote and concluded that "this luminous, retro-looking integrated is more than a babyboomer nostalgia toy. The first example of Schiit Audio's new Nexus current-feedback amplifier technology, the Ragnarok 2 improves on the original in a number of ways. The Model 30's headphone output will work better with high-impedance 'phones. The truly distinctive 65V-1 is a tubed stereo integrated amp whose output architecture is switchable between triode and Ultralinear modes. . Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. McIntosh Unveils Its Most Powerful Amplifier Ever And This - Forbes We play Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture and the McIntosh sounds right at home. JVS found the CH Precision's sound to be "clean, strong, and direct," yet it did not "filter out those intangibles that allow the music to elicit a powerfully emotional response." We wish all the rotary controls tone, input and volume turned with a slicker, more polished feel. Writing from his test bench, JA observed that the Mimas is "generally well engineered." It speaks the truthnot ruthlessly, but honestly." (Vol.41 No.10 WWW), Peachtree Audio nova300: $2199 McIntosh makes a nice array of options for you to consider. perhaps not as expensive as vintage McIntosh but there are a lot of audiophiles willing to spend money on . (This may have been a sample fault.) Any amplifier at this level positively demands talented sources and speakers. Technical Editor JA admired the DAC section's "almost 20 bits worth of resolution," but he noted higher than expected levels of background noise. Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MA352 2-Channel Hybrid Integrated Amplifier Includes our Hybrid Drive technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance Vacuum tube preamplifier and solid state power amplifier 200 Watts into 8 Ohms 320 Watts into 4 Ohms 5-band tone control FIND A DEALER Best for playing high-res music files Primare I35 Prisma. The integrated amplifier market is evolving and that's a very good thing for audiophiles looking in 2022. . JA found higher-than-specified output power into 8 ohms78Wpc instead of 60but slightly less than the specified 100Wpc into 4 ohms, ultimately declaring the amp "well-engineered" and the phono stage "excellent." Anthem's solid-state STR integrated amp offers 200Wpc (into 8 ohms) of class-AB power, along with seven analog inputsone balanced, four single-ended, and two phono (one MM, one MC). The relatively smart-looking but slightly cluttered system remote doesnt help the impression of quality either, as it creaks slightly when twisted or squeezed. Amplifier Power. While the sound through digital inputs lacks a little of the transparency and dynamic expression of the line stages, listening through them is still an enjoyable experience. JA says: Class C for the digital input. To HR, who prefers integrateds over separates yet wouldn't even consider buying an amp with a built-in DAC"Why would I pollute a fine audio component with a non-upgradable and possibly third-rate ancillary? The CXA81 is a versatile, solid state integrated amplifier with analog and digital inputs, headphone, preamplifier, and subwoofer outputs, and the usual loudspeaker outputs. JA's measurements indicated the Model 30 significantly exceeded those powers, clipping at 165Wpc into 8 ohms and 240Wpc into 4 ohms. The RA-1592MKII delivers 200 Watts of Class AB output into 8-ohm speakers supporting your favourite analog, digital, XLR, aptXTM and AAC Bluetooth, PC-USB with MQA and Moving Magnet . Best Speakers for McIntosh MA252 - A Hifi Enthusiast With his DeVore O/93 speakers driven from the 8 ohm outputs, KM wrote that the E-Glo I's sound was "vivid, fast, forceful, clean, very open, spacious, transparent, dynamic, resolving, and full-bodiedeven full-blooded. I would expect the Shinai's sonic character therefore to be similar to that of a typical tube amplifier." And that handset. There is much to admire here Check Amazon Pros + Fluid and articulate performance + Composed, easy-going presentation + Well-equipped and flexible Cons - Sound lacks some rhythmic drive - Creaky remote - Front panel controls feel cheap Vacuum tube preamplifier and solid state power amplifier, Comes with DA2 Digital Audio Module installed, 55% increase in Dynamic Headroom for better music peak reproduction, Comes with DA1 Digital Audio Module installed, Optional dealer installed upgrade to DA2 Digital Audio Module available. JA summed up the measured performance by saying that it "is dominated by the designer's decision not to use negative feedback. "Plenty of bass showed that the low-powered Moonriver 404 Reference has what it takes to drive the challenging Wilson Alexia 2's," he added. The star of Naim's rebooted Uniti line, the Nova combines an 80Wpc integrated amplifier with a media player and streamer, the latter supporting Tidal and Spotify. Writing from his test bench, JA praised the I1's "excellent measured performance." Item # 958MA5300 Free 2-day shipping to Washington . An optional DAC ($1000) decodes PCM to 24/192 and, via USB, DSD to 128, and works with the ConversDigital mConnect app, which also allows streaming from Tidal, Qobuz, et al. Its not beyond criticism, though. . KM described the little Lux as "one of the most transparent components I've had in my system," with a "sweet" tonality and the ability to throw a wide, deep soundstage. This is something that sets McIntoshs designs apart from their transistor-based rivals and involves using an autoformer between the output transistors and the speakers. Regardless which model you choose, you will be rewarded with years of McIntosh quality listening pleasure. See "Headphones & Headphone Accessories. Independent of this, Herb concluded: "an uncommon audio product in search of uncommon audiophiles." McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. - 2 Chambers Street - Binghamton, NY 13903-2699 Take a look through the MA8950s extensive feature list and it seems McIntosh agrees. Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. . After trying the Brio with his DeVore Orangutan O/93 loudspeakers, KM declared, "The Brio controlled bass notes fairly well[, but] its crowning glory was its extended and natural top end." In measuring the SLI-100, JA found "a slight degree of overshoot" in the amp's squarewave reproduction and, far worse, strikingly less output power/higher distortion than specified: "I was disappointed in the Cary Audio SLI-100's measured performance." Summing up, he wrote that "In its ability to create a supercharged musical presentation within a large soundstage populated by big images, allied to superb definition and resolution, with good tone, the E.A.T. Which of the three speaker output options should you use? The MA8950 doesnt quite have the rhythmic precision to truly get our feet tapping but it remains an engaging listen nonetheless. He also felt the INT-25 is capable of putting across "a subtle radiance" that eludes other solid-state electronics. (Vol.43 No.12 WWW), Grandinote Shinai: $15,000 We take some time to play around with the MA8950s five-strong tone controls and can see their value in situations where a recording is particularly poor or perhaps the listening room is compromised. The A-S3200 offers both balanced and singled-ended line inputs, headphone, preamplifier, and loudspeaker outputs, and tone controls. In his measurements, JA also noted low-level power-supply spuriae and that the distortion signature was primarily the subjectively benign second harmonic. Best Mcintosh Integrated Amplifiers [Updated - 2023] - EasyTopTen . JVS liked the headphone outputs, commenting that "the welcome smoothness and beauty of the presentation, and . Refinement is generally excellent and at any normal listening levels there is no sign of unwanted edge or hardness to the sound. A built-in DAC with USB, coaxial, and optical inputs. By Tucker Bowe and Ian White Updated: Oct 13, 2022 Gear Patrol When you're building your first home stereo system, an integrated amplifier is your best friend.
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