What Integrated Amps Are You Using (or what have you tried?)

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Luxman SQ-N10 also runs headphones off the output tubes, is considerably less expensive and has a remote (which sealed the deal for me). Would guess it is pretty much of a push on the quality (both are excellent). However, I like the look of tubes over there percolating away while the music flows, so the case on the Leben is a drawback for me. If the SQ-N10 turns out to no longer be available, I'll likely get another Cary SLI-80. Lots of tubes to look at there. Here is the 6 Moons review of the SQ-N100, which is earlier edition without the iPod interface. He thinks the SQ-N100 is about as good as it gets for cans. http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/luxman3/100.html

You'll love the sound with headphones too.

[Formerly YB-2]

Luxman SQ-N10 arrives Friday if Fedex does its part. Should be fun.

[Formerly YB-2]

OK......... arrived in good condition (very well packaged). Unpacked and singing sweetly in my system. Listened to a CD just to insure all is well and then switched over to our excellent analog FM station to get some 'run-time'.
Right from the first listen it has several gratifying aspects to the sound. First, after 15min of warm-up, was very pleasantly surprised with the bass. Not really something one expects from a 10wpc amp. Especially from new with with stock tubes. Will let them 'burn-in' while waiting delivery of new tubes (NOS Soviet era (not Russian) 6P14P-EV EL84s). Have a set of Tungsram ECC82s and a Tung-Sol ECC83 to roll in at that time. Decent depth to the sound-stage. Should get deeper & wider with some break-in. And, very fast and detailed. Which are pretty much the two most important attributes for me.
On the power end of things, with the volume knob being at zero at 7 o'clock, only need to go to 9 o'clock for my normal 'sweet spot' listening needs, which is great. Was worried that would need to 'crank it up' to get some volume, but is not higher then my previous gear. Very nicely built (Chinese or not) and am quite pleased for now. More later.

[GreginNH1]

What a sweet looking amp Glenn! Keep us posted on the progress you are making with it!

[Formerly YB-2]

After 2-days of break-in running 24-7, was quite pleased with everything but the 'compressed' sound-stage. Rolled in a set of matched NOS Tungsram ECC82s and a new Tung-Sol reissue gold-pin ECC83 and immediate expansion of the sound-stage. Looking forward to getting these tubes run-in and the arrival of NOS Soviet era 6P14P-EV power tubes. The SQ-N10 is really working well with my 89db efficient speakers in my near-field listening environment.

[solson]

got a beast of a receiver the mcintosh mac 6700 I"ve come full circle solson

[andolink]

After demo'ing the Naim Supernait 2 and Simaudio's Moon Neo 340i in my home system, my search for an integrated upgrade is over.

The 340i is the winner and will arrive in less than 3 weeks.

The superiority of both these machines over what I've been using (NAD C356BEE) is vast but the Moon was the more natural and accurate sound. The Naim had an enormous soundstage and forwardness that provide a definite WOW factor but didn't sound completely real to me, especially when compared to the perfectly tonally accurate and natural quality of the Moon 340i. I was feeding these with an Audiolab 8200CD and driving PSB Imagine T floorstanders.

The other top contenders I researched but was unable to tryout at home were:

Hegel H 160
Lyngdorf TDAI 2170
Norma Revo IPA-140

[Quartzone]

After dueling for the past two weeks trying two new Unison Research integrated amps the S6 and the fairly new to the market Hybrid Unico 150 by a narrow margin I think the S6 will be staying. It is just better for long listening sessions.

[andolink]

So I've got 48 hours of burn in on my new Moon Neo 340i using my new Dynaudio Confidence C1 II's and the sound is simply stunning! Such vividness with zero harshness and such a holographic tactile realism to the soundstage. And it should get even better over the next few days.

I'm a happy camper.

____________________________
Stereo: Audiolab 8200CD >>Simaudio Moon Nēo 340i >>Dynaudio Confidence C1 II's + SVS SB12-NSD
Headphones: Audiolab 8200CD (balanced XLR) >>Balanced Cross-feed X6B >>Audio-gd NFB-6 (balanced XLR) >>Norse Skuld 2 Litz UPOCC >>HiFiMan HE-500

[Gravity1]

Had the Mc MA5200 driving my old 805D2s and it was fantastic. I even had it drying my 802D2s until my seperates setup arrived and it drive those as well. Fantastic intergrated amp.