Top 5 Integrated Amps

[Scimitar]

Naim nait 1 had one for years till I purchased a naim 32/140/hicap

 

[sideshowbob]

Sugden A21a and Naim Nait1 are the two integrateds I remember the most fondly.

 

[Frizzy]

Sugden a21a, still one of the most musical amps I’ve ever heard.
Pioneer a400gte, a diamond in the rough, edge of your seat stuff.
Vitus ss010, now looks like good value compared to 025.
Musical fidelity synthesis.my first audio love affair, blew up!
Sansui 717, real musical gem

All solid state as only owned one integrated valve amp, I have a taste for class A.
All my valves have been pre power dht types so wide tastes.

 

[Interceptor]

Vitus SIA030
VItus SIA025
Supernait3

 

[Mr Pig]

I suspect many of you have read the OPs question as 'Please list every integrated amp that has ever been built?'

I mean, NAD 3020, what the heck?? :0.

 

[Billsie]

So do we actually have a “Top 5” then???

 

[Gervais Cote]

So do we actually have a “Top 5” then???

Problem is that some top best 5 here are top 5 worst in another thread.........

 

[Rune]

I can only really say the best 5 integrateds I’ve owned for a decent period of time, and really enjoyed. A demo with someone else’s kit in someone else’s room, makes it difficult to be objective about how good something actually is!

In alpha order.

Gryphon Diablo
Hegel H590
Lavardin IT
Luxman 590
YBA IA350

Agree the Diablo belongs on a top 5 list. My last upgrade was from ncore400 mono amps + MFA baby ref to a Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated and it easily beat the MFA and ncore combination on all SQ parameters. But it does run rather hot

 

[Conan]

Instead of 5 best amplifiers, we should have the PFM 5 most liked amps.
Naim Nait 2
Exposure Super XV
Sugden A21
................
................

 

[White Zombie]

Since we’ve established there’s 100 top 5 integrated amps, I’ll add my Exposure 2010s that I need to sell

 

[Curtis]

I will add the Primare A30.1 to the list although it was a bit unreliable.

 

[Bob Edwards]

Perhaps top 5 makes?

Naim
Exposure
Sugden
Yamaha/Accuphase/Luxman
Arcam (?)

 

[Gervais Cote]

Instead of 5 best amplifiers, we should have the PFM 5 most liked amps.
Naim Nait 2
Exposure Super XV
Sugden A21
................
................

That would make it easier.......
I would add A&R Cambridge A60 and Creek 4040 to your list.
No need to spend a ton of money to enjoy music !

 

[Gervais Cote]

Perhaps top 5 makes?

Naim
Exposure
Sugden
Yamaha/Accuphase/Luxman
Arcam (?)

I would replace your 3 japs with Sansui 717 and up to save money and get as much if not more music and remove Arcam to substitute with Musical Fidelity. (personal preferences.....)

 

[mbu]

I’m thinking about building another system for vinyl only and I already have a decent phono stage.
This question is likely a can of worms but what would be the very best integrated amps either new or used in the last 30 or so years?
Many thanks!

Densen and Gamut produce integrated amps that may be near top performers ? Very expensive though.
If a Gamut amp in black came up for sale pre owned id be tempted .

 

[Chris81]

I will add the Primare A30.1 to the list although it was a bit unreliable.

I would add it to the top 5 (sounding) worst amplifier list.

 

[Salamander]

Surely, runs hot, unreliable, could do with a bit more power ect ect, rules these out from the top 5

 

[Curtis]

I would add it to the top 5 (sounding) worst amplifier list.

It ran my Dynaudio’s fine which is a mission although I did have to replace one of the transformers.
Sound was smooth, powerful and expansive.
Certainly better in balanced mode.

 

[tenpercenter]

Bit late to this one, but mine would be

QED A240 - punchy, lively and dynamic
NVA AP30 - sweet, open but still musical
Sonneteer Alabaster- soulful
Naim Nait XS mk1 - absolute sweet spot of a Naim amp. Far more complete than Nait 1 / 2 and more musical than a Supernait! An absolute bargain imho (I’ve owned all of them)

 

[omers]

Not sure what the other three are