The Rise of the Uber-High End Integrated Amp

[Republicoftexas69]

Try out the all new LFD NCSE Integrated amp with the LFD Power cable and LFD speaker cables and LFD Interconnects cables

https://www.generubinaudio.com/shop/ols/products/lfd-ncse-mkii

Are you peddling gear? My X200 is exquisite and I am not in the market dude.

 

[Audio_Karma]

Are you peddling gear? My X200 is exquisite and I am not in the market dude.

No

 

[Republicoftexas69]

No

Sorry did not intend to sound snarky. LFD is quite nice do you have one?

 

[Easy Gliders]

Vitus Audio

Vitus Audio MP-I201
INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER​

1000 watts RMS into 4 ohms.
Weight 125 kg

 

[gleeds]

I have not heard this 100-watt/channel hybrid integrated yet but by all accounts, it seems to be the one to beat for roughly 10K. Beautiful design and build too!
Circle Labs AS-200

Available in the USA from Colin King at Gestalt Audio.

 

[Hyperion]

I have not heard this 100-watt/channel hybrid integrated yet but by all accounts, it seems to be the one to beat for roughly 10K. Beautiful design and build too!
Circle Labs AS-200

Available in the USA from Colin King at Gestalt Audio. View attachment 95189

Intriguing amp for sure. What makes it "the one to beat" in your opinion?

/ Marcus, www.perfect-sense.se

 

[Stefan]

As I am involved in the commercial side of our shared interest please take my thoughts with a pinch or salt as a good friend would say...

I have been a longterm user of the Pathos TT mentioned earlier(stock standard though), at least for 25 years now and I have seen some big names come through my front door and leave after a week or so but the Moonriver 404 Reference have me raving of what it is capable of. No, no it is not an uber-hi-end integrated but I am smitten to say the least.

Regards Stefan

Homepage Airmusic - Airmusic

Welcome to AIRMUSIC The home of fine audio equipment WITH LOVE AND PASSION… All to serve the music Play the soundtrack of your life Immersive and emotional playback of the recording arts Proud ambassador of the world's finest All Living Voice Link...

airmusic.co.za

ps @Philip O Hanlon

 

[gleeds]

I have not heard this 100-watt/channel hybrid integrated yet but by all accounts, it seems to be the one to beat for roughly 10K. Beautiful design and build too!
Circle Labs AS-200

Available in the USA from Colin King at Gestalt Audio. View attachment 95189

Hi Marcus. The US Importer Colin King is a colleague who's ear I trust implicitly. I also like the tube/solid state hybrid circuit offered by this design. Build quality is also important to me and I'm impressed with what I see. I'll be bringing one in to my shop in the fall. Happy to report back.

 

[Steve Williams]

As I am involved in the commercial side of our shared interest please take my thoughts with a pinch or salt as a good friend would say...

I have been a longterm user of the Pathos TT mentioned earlier(stock standard though), at least for 25 years now and I have seen some big names come through my front door and leave after a week or so but the Moonriver 404 Reference have me raving of what it is capable of. No, no it is not an uber-hi-end integrated but I am smitten to say the least.

Regards Stefan

Homepage Airmusic - Airmusic

Welcome to AIRMUSIC The home of fine audio equipment WITH LOVE AND PASSION… All to serve the music Play the soundtrack of your life Immersive and emotional playback of the recording arts Proud ambassador of the world's finest All Living Voice Link...

airmusic.co.za

ps @Philip O Hanlon

I heard the first iteration of this amp at Philip's house when he first imported it to the USA. It is a remarkable amp for the price. There is now an optional internal phonocard that comes either balanced or single ended. I also understand that Moonriver is launching an out board phono stage as well as amps in the coming year. All great things for Philip

 

[gestalt]

Intriguing amp for sure. What makes it "the one to beat" in your opinion?

/ Marcus, www.perfect-sense.se

Hi Marcus,

For context, I primarily listen to horns (along with a few really lovely field coil designs) and am spoiled by exceptional SET amplifiers. Once you've lived with good SETs on appropriate loudspeakers it can be difficult to listen to other designs, on average.

To me, the A200 offers a purity normally found in the low power SET designs that I love, but with real world power output and high damping factor for nice control of speakers where a SET isn't the best match. It's not a SET and I'm not trying to sell it as one, but I do think it's a special piece that has a "rightness" I find elusive. Build quality is remarkable. The highest compliment I can offer is that it makes me want to listen to more music.

Here's a thread on Audiogon with owners sharing their opinions: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussi...ted-amplifier-review-it-will-appeal-to-both-t

Disclosure: I import Circle Labs products into the US.

 

[matakana]

I have not heard this 100-watt/channel hybrid integrated yet but by all accounts, it seems to be the one to beat for roughly 10K. Beautiful design and build too!
Circle Labs AS-200

Available in the USA from Colin King at Gestalt Audio. View attachment 95189

The Enleum 23 R is gaining high praises indeed !

 

[Republicoftexas69]

I will say the Norma Audio is making some very nice integrated amplifiers and they have by all accounts a first rate importer in Audio Thesis.

Can be a hit or miss proposition with the distributors. I have also been hearing good things about Gestalt.

 

[gleeds]

I can attest to Gestalt. Colin King, the owner spent several hours over the July 4th holiday weekend helping me resolve a networking problem with a customer even though we currently do not do business together and he was not involved in the sale. Pretty amazing I'd say!

 

[KeithR]

A lot of non Uber high end integrateds being posted.

 

[gleeds]

You are right Keith, after the Vitus post things went decidedly downstream. Good units all I'm sure but off-topic nevertheless.

Getting back on track here's a potentially Uber Integrated from Danish Audio Designs, 2 X 200 into 8ohms with huge capacitance reserves.

 

[BlueFox]

Maybe the issue is what defines an Uber high-end integrated amp. Price? Performance? Cosmetics? Manufacturer? All four?

 

[morricab]

Aries Cerat Aperio
Aries Cerat Genus
Amplifon SET42 SE
Ypsilom Phaeton
KR Audio VA680i

 

[Cellcbern]

As I am involved in the commercial side of our shared interest please take my thoughts with a pinch or salt as a good friend would say...

I have been a longterm user of the Pathos TT mentioned earlier(stock standard though), at least for 25 years now and I have seen some big names come through my front door and leave after a week or so but the Moonriver 404 Reference have me raving of what it is capable of. No, no it is not an uber-hi-end integrated but I am smitten to say the least.

Regards Stefan

Homepage Airmusic - Airmusic

Welcome to AIRMUSIC The home of fine audio equipment WITH LOVE AND PASSION… All to serve the music Play the soundtrack of your life Immersive and emotional playback of the recording arts Proud ambassador of the world's finest All Living Voice Link...

airmusic.co.za

ps @Philip O Hanlon

There is so much more to be "unlocked" with your Pathos TT via upgrading:

Pathos TT RR Mods/Upgrades - 2

Superb job by Bill Thalman of Music Technology, Inc. in Springfield, VA on the 2nd and most ambitious upgrade (3rd photo from left) of my (made in 2004) Pathos TT RR. The attached photos show the differences between the stock amp and the modified versions. No changes in circuit design, just...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[Republicoftexas69]

One mans garbage is another mans gold.

All perception.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Check out this integrated , a beauty ...
Nice price too

ROSE RA180 Verstärker inkl. MM/MC-Phono — beaudioful

VORZUGSPREIS zur EINFÜHRUNG im deutschen Markt Geben Sie es zu: Sie wollen ihn doch auch. Jetzt schnell im Highend-Angebot gönnen und satte 500€ sparen . (Gilt nur so lange wir ein GO vom deutschen Vertrieb haben und kann sich jederzeit, auch nicht angekündigt, ändern.) Die ersten Geräte sind im

beaudioful.com