Integrateds I'm lusting after....
 

Audio Research DSI-200 Class D. Gorgeous! $6k

Conrad Johnson CA-200. Novel approach to preamp section. $6.5k

NAD M2 - Claims to be first true digital amp. Replace my DAC, Pre, and Amp in one fell swoop! Great reviews on this but not in love with the appearance. -$6k

Plinius Hautonga - Latest top of the line intergrated from plinius. Typical gorgeous finish from plinius. - $5.6k

Haven't heard any of these, but they are all on my radar as a possible replacement for my existing gear.

Have you considered the Balanced Audio Technology VK-300x? It's in that same price range.

Personally, not sure Class D amps are the way to go. They're fine for powering subs, but for general audio amplification, I still think Class A/Class A/B is the way to go.

Get the C-J....you get close to Premier 350 levels of power and that C-J preamp magic.

Most examples on Audiogon sell for about $4500. I believe there is one on there right now.

Plus, you get C-J's famous customer service, they still service everything they have ever built, and excellent resale value.

Here is an integrated amplifier I lust over, the DarTZell CTH-8550 ($21K)


Photo from Stereophile
http://www.stereophile.com/images/ar.../809dart.1.jpg

Yeah, I lust after that one, too...and I've actually heard it one three separate occasions...it's amazing. Pricey, though.

I lust after this integrated - even if I never play a note of music through it.

I actually owned this Gamut amp and sold it . . . stupid me!

http://www.audioaficionado.org/membe...grated-amp.jpg

Sexy Amp.............it got a great review as well.

I tend to agree on this choice, plus they are right down the road from me.
Regards,
Jim

I once owned the ARC Dsi-200 and it did not work well with my speakers and sonic preference.
The unit looks nice, has a great feature set and has received a lot of positive reviews.
I wanted to love it, but it simply could do no justice for my Revel Studio 2's.

Going with the CA200 is a safe bet...you know it's going to sound great.

It's amazing...no question about it.

Here's a peek inside the DarTZell CTH-8550.


Photo from Stereophile
http://www.stereophile.com/images/ar...art.inside.jpg

Ain't much in there! Must be that $9,000 transformer. Darn thing sure sounds good though. I guess this is a true minimalist design.

Actually, Julian, there's a lot more in there than meets the eye, just like Transformers (ha ha! no pun intended!). The photograph doesn't show the level of complexity of components and subassemblies that is actually present inside the chassis.

It's one of the best sounding components I've ever heard.

-Stephen.

I wish the DartZel looked as good as the GamuT then it would be perfect.

Jim

Jim.......I second that. :yes:

The ModWright KWI200 is a soon to be released integrated (will be released and available to audition at RMAF) that might be worth consideration:

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...9&d=1321204982

Joe, that ModWright is a serious looking contender...

+1 of the CA200. Its the best one I have heard.

Speaking of complexity...a peek under the hood, of the modest M3 I have coming :D

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...1313728859.jpg

CD

CDLehner, welcome aboard! :wave:

CDLehner...welcome to AA :wave: and congrats on the new NAD integrated. Enjoy :thumbsup:

Thanks guys! I'll listen to the M3 for a while...put it through its paces. Then I need to match it up against my Belles 21a, and whatever power-amp I'm going to mate it to next.

CD

CDLehner... Welcome To AA!!!!


:welcome2.:

I have listened to the DSI-200 at my local dealer but found the sound to be too sterile and not inviting IMHO

Is there such a thing as class-D and class-D? My one and only experiment was with a pair of PS Audio Trio A-100s. I was going to try Bel Canto, but a dealer who carried both suggested the PSA. He said "same shit, just the BC has a prettier case and higher price"...lol; and that the PSA had a better input section.

I didn't like it with my Dynaudio Focus 140s (or did I already have the Contour S1.4s by then), and I can't even imagine how it might sound with the ultra-revealing Special 25s. But of course, every once in a while I get tempted to try them again; most of all, with either BC after all, or especially a beefy pair of Wyred4Sound.

But is there any reasonable expectation, one class-D circuit will sound much different from another?

CD

That picture of the interior of a "modest" NAD M3 integrated brought to mind a picture of the inside of a very expensive Krell Cipher - $20,000 - that Serge recently posted in another thread . . . .


Looking at the pictures, which do you think should be the more expensive or more valuable of the two . . .?

I think if I paid $20K for the Krell and then looked inside - I'd probably croak - looks like about $500.00 worth of innards!

How does this HK990 look? :yes:

Harman Kardon - HK 990 - 150 watt, stereo-integrated amplifier

Well...I'm new around these parts, so I'm trying to keep things in perspective while I get my footing. When I say the M3 is "modest", I'm trying not to act as if I'm comparing it against mega-buck units from the likes of Gamut, DarTZeel, MBL, et al. I'd throw the Krell Cipher into that group, but after seeing these pics, I'd have to agree with JPrice; looks like a bit of an empty shirt (although stuffings don't necessarily translate into sound, right?)

But obvioulsy the M3 is well-regarded in its price-range, and I'm happy to be auditioning it; happier still, after this comparison...lol

CD

The (US) link doesn't work (here?).
The UK link does:
HK 990 - Harman Kardon

While I agree with Julian's general observation about the innards of the Cipher in comparison to it's retaill asking price, keep in mind that the Cipher is a CD/SACD player, so it deals with low level signals as compared to an amp that has to amplify low level signals. So transformer needed in the Cipher much smaller. No heat sinks required and so on. There are many digital pieces where half the case is empty. There is usually very little correlation between cost of bill of goods in a piece of equipment and its retail pricing so point is still well made.

Kal.......The HK 990 looks good. $2K seems extremely reasonable, too. Looks like Harman International is building them in China.


http://www.harmankardon.com/resource...G5_800X600.GIF



http://www.harmankardon.com/resource...G1_800X600.GIF



http://www.harmankardon.com/resource...G4_800X600.GIF

Speaking of built in China….here is another integrated that I think is fairly interesting….

Grant Fidelity W30GT Integrated Amplifier Fully featured and revolutionary…not just evolutionary! Review By Nels Ferre


I like the H/K as well…..I believe a fellow AA member said the H/K was going to be reviewed in this Dec. S’Phile…..

CD.... Have you had a chance yet to gain an appreciation of the M3?

No; it's due tomorrow, but even then I won't be able to listen right away. Currently, my rig is disassembled, while my room gets some much-needed improvements. Some cosmetic stuff, like Crown...to make it look nice; but mostly, some DIY acoustic treatments...I've been putting off since the beginning of time...to make it sound nice.

I'm a notorious procrastinator when it comes to house projects; but my hope is my listening pleasure, hanging in the balance, will be enough to light a fire under my ass...lol

CD

I am curious if anyone has auditioned or owned the Naim Supernait integrated?

Mystere IA21
ia21 Integrated Amplifier - $2995

Primaluna Dialogue 2
DiaLogue Two Integrated Amplifier - $2999

I've always heard that PrimaLuna was on the "dark" side, but that might be more the ProLogue series.

Now the Mystere OTOH; also an amp I lust after. Gorgeous!

I was impressed. If I had a need for a 2 channel setup...........