[TONEPUB]

Just got the Boulder 865 in, we'll have to see how that is...

[mav52]

Ayre Acoustics AX-7e @$3,500

[dcurtis53]

The best that I have heard is the BMC AMP CS2. 

[jimdgoulding]

There are a lot of good options, but in the $1650 price range the HEED Si is excellent. I easily preferred it to the Van Alstine separates that I had for an in-home trial, and in comparison to the well regarded Wyred4Sound STI-1000 that I had for a while. The HEED combines the organic fluidity of tubes with a very high level of detail and terrific control of bass (without any artificial emphasis). On top of that it handles dynamics extremely well, really keeping pace with the life of the music. It just sounds right and never fatiguing. Compared to my Jolida 302, the HEED has all of the tube naturalness with the control and detail of solid state. Soundstaging is outstanding as well.

HEED seems to get no attention in the US, but it's very well reviewed in the European magazines. It's a small shop out of Hungary, very much in the spirit of many manufacturers that have fora here in Audiocircle. There's more info on their website.

http://www.heedaudio.hu/en/products/obelisk-line/si

I bought mine at EarHead Audio in Winchester, VA. I don't know what other shops might carry them in the U.S., but if you run across one you should check it out.

This very nice looking unit even comes with a remote control.  "With the organic fluidity of tubes" writes Mr. Zooreview and what nice choice of words to describe the sound.  Does it use some SS, too?  What a handsome lil bugger this is, imo, right down to the wee lights.

[ted_b]

The Pass, the Modwright, and now the Melody AN300B (wow!).

[Audio-den]

Nu Force IA18 Outstanding For $3500.00

[Zero]

The Karan Acoustic KA I-180 commands my respect when it comes to pure SS musical luv.  Shame about the price though...     $10,500.   Ouch!

[tdangelo]

ASR Emitter II Exclusive for a pure SS integrated or the AMR AM77.1 mono blocks for a little tube influence(input stage) but still an integrated if you wish to use it that way.

[wisnon]

Hmmm, a Rowen modded NAD M3  and any of the lesser Nad with the Rowen Swiss Power mod.

I suspect the Simoons and the Dartzeels should be excellent too.

[Mr. Orange]

Right now I'm enjoying listening to my McIntosh MA6100 hooked up to my Magnestand MG12 speakers. It may be old but it sounds pretty good to me. 


For tubes it would have been my Cary SLI80 F1.

[thomashek]

Second Karan KI-180, would add Pass Labs INT-30 and Accuphase E-560

[baka]

Goldmund - Telos 390.5

better in all aspects of Dartzeel CTH 8550

[barrows]

simple, Vitus, pretty much any of them...

[PierreB]

For tubes it's the Sonic Frontiers SFS-80.
For SS it's my Bryston 2B SST.

[srb]

For tubes it's the Sonic Frontiers SFS-80.
For SS it's my Bryston 2B SST.

They're both power amps, not integrated amps.

[Freo-1]

While my #1 vote still goes for the Pass Labs INT-150, would also like to give a shout out to the Yamaha A S-2000.  After years being out of the high end, they certainly are back in the game with units like this.

[Vapor Audio]

The best that I have heard is the BMC AMP CS2. 

Same here, it was good enough that I signed up as a dealer.  BMC is the only product line I carry, they're that good.

[PierreB]

They're both power amps, not integrated amps.

Sorry for my mistake. Maybe to much wine.....

But Audiomat Solfège for integrated amps (Tube)