[martyo]

AVA OmegaStar EX control amplifier, $1499. Shares the musicality of all AVA gear. And built in the USA!

[Kevin Haskins]

The little Simaudio Moon i-1 looks interesting.   No experience with it nor attachment to the company but the design looks solid.   I like simple too.....


http://www.simaudio.com/mooni1.htm

[doug s.]

...If you own one you really like, you are most likely NOT trying to sell it...

you must be a newbie!     you wouldn't believe the amount of gear audiophiles go thru, yust to try different stuff.  i have sold many speakers, amps, tuners that were fantastic, & possible keepers for many folks that aren't interested in trying different gear.  yust because i sold something does not mean i didn't like it.  i sold a pair of manley mahi tube mono blocks that were fantastic.  i let go a melos mat180, (similar to the triode 200 i recommended), it too was fantastic.  because i sold them, it does not mean i don't think they're killer amps.  i sold one of my all-time fave speakers - coincident victory's - yust to fund the purchase of some horn speakers i wanted to hear.  i have a pair of killer piega coax ribbon speakers that i haven't listened to in six months.  i have a killer pair of proac tablette 8 reference signatures that i have listened to once in three years - at a local mid-atlantic audio get-together.  i have a pair of (supposedly) killer gemme audio tantos - they have been in their boxes for three months now, since i have purchased them - for now i am enjoying my new horns.

re: my electrocompaniet amps, that would be my first choice for solid state.  but i would choose any of the tube amps i mentioned over them to drive main speakers (prowided the speakers are efficient enough) - i prefer tubes.  the ec amps are now relegated to subwoofer duty.  re: the hypex amp i am "hyping",    i freely admit i have no idea how it sounds.  search the web for info - if you are leaning towards solid state, this type of amp may be exactly what you want.  in the opinion of others, not mine.  and, also supposedly a freaking bargain, for the sonics offered...  i can tell you that my recently acquired <$200 25wpc rawsonte gainclone is good enough to have replaced the mid-bass tube amp in my present triamp set-up (for frequencies from ~70hz-250hz), so one of my low-power amps may be f/s soon, but i don't think it's anything that may be of interest to you...

Also leaning more towards SS, since I had a tube setup and it had low level noise that I cound never pin down.

re: tube amps in general, yust because you had one tube set up w/a low level noise issue you couldn't pin down, it doesn't mean tube gear is noisy per se...

best of luck to you,

doug s.

[Stu Pitt]

A couple of integrateds I've heard and liked a lot that may fit in your budget if bought used -

Manley Stingray
Simaudio i3 and i5
Arcam A???
Naim Nait 5i
Rega Mira 3

Older Mac integrateds can be found too.  They hold up very well, but due to their age, they may be a bit of a gamble.

I bought a Bryston B60 used within your stated budget.  I haven't looked forward, backward, or sideways since.  Had a Manley Stingray been available for the budget when I was looking, I'd have had a hard time but would probably still bought the B60 at the end of the day.  You can't argue with a 20 year transferable waranty.

[tablaloops]

I would also like to add Melody I880 to the list here..

[cornelius]

I have a Cyrus 8vs2 which I think is amazing...

[whell]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1219096801

This is not an amp I'm selling.  I did own one until recently when I upgraded to Nuforce monoblocks.  The PS Audio is a killer little amp that you can throw into just about any system and it will sing quite well.  For the $600 that these go for used, its hard to beat, even in  your $1000+ price range.

[lonewolfny42]

Dussun DS99 Integrated Amplifier......under $1,000.00...

Heard it a few times...nice little amp.

And a few reviews...here......and.....here.....

[santacore]

I'll second the Melody suggestion. I've owned the I880 for the last 3-4 months and think it sounds fantastic. In fact I liked it so much I just picked up their I2A3. It's lower power but sounds even better. Plus, they operate cool and are the quietest amps I've had the pleasure of owning. Quality stuff at reasonable prices.

[doug s.]

Dussun DS99 Integrated Amplifier......under $1,000.00...

Heard it a few times...nice little amp.

And a few reviews...here......and.....here.....

dussun, (formerly korsun), does make really nice sounding solid state gear.  i own the retail $250 korsun u2 integrated 50wpc amp, & it far outperforms most gear at its price-point.  in fact, it's so good, that red rose re-badged it & sold quite a few of them for $2000.    

my u2 looks like this:


in fact, red rose music is still doing this.  get the dussun ds99 for $600, or buy the red rose passion for $3k:

http://www.redrosemusic.com/literature/passion.pdf
http://www.redrosemusic.com/literature/rrm_pricelist.pdf

inside of red rose passion:
http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=redrose5pc.jpg

inside of dussun ds99:
http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=korsunks99dentro9zu.jpg

red rose affirmation, at $7k:
http://www.redrosemusic.com/affirmation.shtml
http://www.redrosemusic.com/literature/rrm_pricelist.pdf

dussun @ $1425 shipped:
http://www.nysound.com/exec/servlet/CategoryServlet?action=productdetail&itemID=kos-2010-01001&formID=0


red rose speakers are sourced from aurum cantus, w/similar pricing mark-ups.  korsun/dussun & aurum cantus make quality gear @ good prices, imo.  but, you should run, don't walk, away from red rose gear, imo.  go direct to the source.   

doug s.

[kbuzz3]

Dussun DS99 Integrated Amplifier......under $1,000.00...

Heard it a few times...nice little amp.

And a few reviews...here......and.....here.....

dussun, (formerly korsun), does make really nice sounding solid state gear.  i own the retail $250 korsun u2 integrated 50wpc amp, & it far outperforms most gear at its price-point.  in fact, it's so good, that red rose re-badged it & sold quite a few of them for $2000.    

my u2 looks like this:


in fact, red rose music is still doing this.  get the dussun ds99 for $600, or buy the red rose passion for $3k:

http://www.redrosemusic.com/literature/passion.pdf
http://www.redrosemusic.com/literature/rrm_pricelist.pdf

inside of red rose passion:
http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=redrose5pc.jpg

inside of dussun ds99:
http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=korsunks99dentro9zu.jpg

red rose affirmation, at $7k:
http://www.redrosemusic.com/affirmation.shtml
http://www.redrosemusic.com/literature/rrm_pricelist.pdf

dussun @ $1425 shipped:
http://www.nysound.com/exec/servlet/CategoryServlet?action=productdetail&itemID=kos-2010-01001&formID=0


red rose speakers are sourced from aurum cantus, w/similar pricing mark-ups.  korsun/dussun & aurum cantus make quality gear @ good prices, imo.  but, you should run, don't walk, away from red rose gear, imo.  go direct to the source.   

doug s.

I was going to suggest the Dussan DS99 myself but it comes in ALOT under the specified budget . With that said, I run this amp about 4 hours daily and it is for real.  I am a tube guy and I really really enjoy this thing.  It does the full range of sound in an even powerful and sophisticated manner. I would not discount this unit based on price alone. I think positive feedback was the first one on the dussan bandwagon. 

One other suggestion which i have not heard but I have considered is the van alstine integrated. 

[Demarche]

I had a Classe CA-100 that was quite good and currently sells for ~$700.
I have since gone to the McCormack DNA-125 which I think it's an excellent 2 channel s.s. amp worth considering and is still on the low end of your budget.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1217947185

[sbrtoy]

Others have mentioned it and it is a shameless plug since I sell the line, but the PS Audio C-100 is a really nice little amp, also they sell the P-200/A-100 separates which add some more horsepower and balanced operation as well. 

I have a demo system with the P-200/A-100/Digital Link III and it sounds phenomenal while taking up extremely little space and looking quite handsome.

[Wind Chaser]

Nobody mentioned YBA yet...

[smerlas]

Used Bryston B60R fits your budget and is one heck of an integrated.  Had one loved it, wish I never got rid of it.  Will end up with another for use a second system in my study. 

B60 Lead to the purchase of separate Bryston amp and preamp.  With a 20 year transferable warranty you can't go wrong with a used one.  They pop up from time to time on Audiogon.





The following link discusses the Bryston integrated compared to the Musical Fidelity and Classe integrateds.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=52835.0

[giantsteps]

 Vincent Audio SV-226 Hybrid integrated Amp. (US$1,500)
Their products are getting a lot of praise.

 http://www.vincentaudio.com.au/


 Frank

[PurnhaDW]

Check out the Denon PMA 2000IVR integrated amp. at $1200. Way under-rated at 80wpc-8ohms, 160wpc-4 ohms.  Purchased  from Crutchfield about 1 month ago and I'm very pleased. The improvement over my prior consumer 100 wpc receiver was remarkable. I had recently upgraded speakers to PSB B15 & B25 monitors w/ PSB 10" subwoofer which provided an order of magnitude improvement over my exisitng mid-fi speakers. I was skeptical that an amplifier could provide much additional improvement, if any -  but Crutchfield had a liberal return policy so I wasn't concerned. Wow, was I ever wrong. - another order of magnitude improvement, beautiful fidelity at all volume levels and has opened up these bookshelf speakers so much that it has all but eliminated the need for the subwoofer.   This a class A/B amp, big and heavy at 58 lbs., so you better have a sturdy rack.

-Dave

[max190]

What are you audiophiles using for a decent 2 channel amp or integerated amp?
Need a good 2-channel amp or integrated for $1000 to $1500? Hopefully with alot of digital and analog inputs. One that is quiet.
Recommendations welcome! (Also, will be driving 4 ohm speakers rated at 300 wpc max)

I've had this guy 'Bada DC-222 Hybrid Vacuum Tube Amp' in my 2-ch system now for 5 months... and I love it.
IMO, it offers the best of both worlds.  Roll your own tubes in the pre-amp, and SS power.

This remote controlled int is driving power hungry 4 ohm Dynaudio 3.4's / 88dB in a sealed 12.5 x 15.5 x 8 room with ease.
Smooth, open, dynamic, dead quiet, all for $599.00 from here http://www.pacificvalve.us/BDC222.html

Here are a few shots of the amp;




Good luck,

[mca]

Wow, that Bada is one great looking integrated, inside and out. If it sounds anywhere as good as it looks, it would seem to be a bargain at it's price 

I also remember seeing that someone is modding these (just don't remember who).

[Double Ugly]

I also remember seeing that someone is modding these (just don't remember who).

APL Hi-Fi.