Integrated Amplifiers

There is occasionally in this saturated market place a product that elicits a raw primeval desire to own and nurture.

Surround sound amplifiers come and go with their intemperate changes of HDMI protocols and surround formats.

The sheer conservatism of many excellent UK stereo products never penetrates the aesthetic sensibilities of many a potential music lover.

And then there is this McIntosh reference kit. Like a turbocharged Harley Davidson gate crashing Moto GP it is impossible to ignore, absolutely functional but outrageous design and audio quality.

An immediate object of desire after encounter and audition.

Come and try them

. McIintosh MA12000 Amplifier official site 

McIntosh MCD12000 Cd Player official site 

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The day this amplifier came into the shop was the day of our annual Christmas party. We plugged in this unit and played it hard. In fact it was still being blasted at 2am in the morning with a soundtrack of Madonna and Daft Punk.

In an era where so many products in consumer electronics are retro faux this is the real thing, it has a quintessential character that is true to the brands own rules with no compromise to marketing theories. It is sheer fun.

Straight out of the box, it doesn't feel tight and reserved. We've had it mainly playing on a set of Spendor D9.2 and they come alive. The bass is deep and full; bouncy and agile. There's also a consistency through the speaker and a real presence that lifts this amp above the rest.

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Now born again under Heinz Lichteniger tutelage this massive state of art integrated amplifier has beautiful needles, remarkable nuvistor hybrid semiconductor devices, and makes 2.2 kilowatts into 1 Ohm.

Now this uses the unique output devices being the Nuvistor valves.

Nu-Vista refers to Musical Fidelity’s spin on Nuvistor tubes/valves that, according to the press release, “…were invented in the 1950s to solve the many shortcomings of conventional tubes. Unlike them, Nuvistor tubes offer very high reliability, low microphony, low noise, consistency from batch to batch, small size, relatively low power consumption and great technical performance.”

 

 Musical Fidelity official site for NuVista800.2 

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Chord Electronics has generally steered clear of full size integrateds prefering to manufacture separate pre and power amplifiers. There are many advantages with the separates design but many HiFi enthusiasts will appreciate the convenience and simplicity of the single chassis.

This is still a 'no compromise' sort of integrated amplifier. The focs is on the very best of components especially the power supplies to create that Chord Electronics signature resolving sound. We find the new Ultima range though is warmer than its predecessors making it more forgiving and suitable to a broader range of speakers.

At the moment, we are love the Ultimas with Spendor D-range and Dynaudio Contour and Confidence.

This unit is expected to arrive in Australia in September/October 2023.

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Significant step-up from the VSi60 in every meaningful way Muscular 75 watts per channel, 50% more than the VSi60 New low profile anodized front panel Power transformer designed around the new (4x) KT150 output tubes Incorporates some key parts from the REF75 including proprietary coupling caps Learn More

A Solid state beast of a machine that can play loud and hard.

"An astonishingly good amplifier... Blending together the brand's modern take on traditional analogue approaches with a healthy dose of digital inputs plus a top flight phono stage, headphone amp and battleship build quality." ... "A very elegant sounding amplifier with a lot of power in reserve... a hefty amplifier that is capable of great things and a lot more than just brute force, the MA7200 doesn’t just look the part, it sounds the part!" ...

Come and try it out.

McIntosh MA7200 official site 

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This is a rare amplifier and Rab's favourite. A classic, Japanese built elegant monster. We believe this is the only one in Australia.

It has sat in Rab's favourite demo room for many years and he has in particular loved its pairing with a set of Monitor Audio Platinum 500s. As we're moving around our demo rooms a little, it's time to find a good home for this chiseled jaw beauty...

The extension in the bass that this amp can produce is incredible and its mids are smooth and mellow. The highs are agile, brilliant but not harsh.

This is a whole different ball game from the commonly available Denon amps. It was a classic as soon as it came out of the factory.

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Top of the ACTION range, the A100 Titan is a hi-performance valve integrated amplifier using all tube technology. 100W per
per channel using 8 x KT66 valves in ultralinear push-pull configuration. Input stage uses ECC83/12AX7, phase splitter uses
12BH7. Utilising a custom output transformer resulting in a rich sound stage with an authority that must be heard to be
appreciated. 4 line input, USB and SPDIF inputs, pre out. Inbuilt DAC uses dual mono Wolfson WM8740 dacs, sampling up to
192KHz / 24bit. Remote control for volume and inputs.

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People seem just truly mesmerised by the lights and the bling aesthetic of this amplifier. But this unit really backs it up with a sound quality that matches the aesthetic. Big bold and fun!

This is a hybrid amplifier - meaning it uses both vacuum tubes and solid state circuitry - combining the best of both.

This is a strong no-compromise amplifier that can drive a huge range of speakers and bring out the best in them.

"Want valve [vacuum tube] sound with solid state power and reliability? McIntosh have a long history in both fields and bring their expertise to glorious fruition in the audacious MA352 hybrid amplifier, packed with power, glowing valves and the expansive sound they enjoy... The MA352 is an amplifier that we thought was glorious in both appearance and sound." Named Best Hybrid Amplifier 2020. – Hi-Fi World

 "Hi-Fi World" on the McIntosh MA352 

 Official site for the MA352 

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I think there was a designer in Musical Fidelity who had been spending too much of his life on caffeine and narcotics and marathon listening sessions who in a fit of mad innovation made this massive battle tank of an amplifier with every wet dream specification and design feature for an audiophile fantasy.

If it was a tank it would be Ferdinand Porsche's Panzerkampfwagen VII Maus 188 ton Hitlerite monster that fortunately never went into service. It makes no less than 550 watts per channel into loudspeaker systems with an impedance of 8 ohms, while with a 4 ohm load the figure is a remarkable 870 watts per channel. The manufacturer even goes so far as to speak of even higher power reserves, namely a peak of no less than 1.6 kW at 2 ohms.

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The Synthesis A50 Taurus is the middle model in the high-end Action series of integrated amplifiers. It's a 50W stereo tube amplifier that incorporates four KT88 valves into its sleek design. This beautiful amplifier also includes an onboard 24-bit / 192kHz Wolfson DAC for added convenience alongside a listening experience like no other.

The A50 Taurus is crafted from a sophisticated blend of research and experience using only the finest quality materials and the most advanced technology practically available, allowing this "traditional" amplifier to sit at home in any modern hi-fi system

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In Leema's words this is a 'hot rod' model of the Tucana II with low resistance double weight copper circuit boards, Nichicon muse capacitors, Noratel extra quiet transformers and hand matched transistors.

What looks the same from the outside (besides the little Anniversary badge) is actually a souped up version under the hood.

Made in Wales, Leema are a fastidious true audiophile company proud of their Welshness and passionate about audio.

"The Speaker Shack" on the Leema Tucana Anniversary

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Looking for the iron hand in velvet glove in an amplifier? Then this new top of the range Prima Luna integrated may be the one.

An excellent Ken Kessler review here:

https://www.hifinews.com/content/primaluna-evo-300-hybrid-integrated-amplifier

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At Carlton Audio Visual we're not normally ones to jump up and down at a $10500 amplifier and streamer all-in-one unit. But this one by Naim Audio is different, much different.

A sublime combination of musicality and clarity. Music jumps alive in the hands of this unit. It's fast, clear and precise but it doesn't compromise that with any sort of harshness to the sound.

A brilliant performer if you're after a compelling reproduction in an 'all-in-one' box.

Naim products bought from us, a genuine approved Naim dealer, include the full 2 year warranty.

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The new Audio Research i50 integrated amplifier is the new entry level offering from US tube manufacturer, Audio Research. 

Audio Research is the sort of brand that hardened audiophiles lust after, drool over and buckle at the knees for...myself included. The sort of effortless, unadultered, rich sound that keeps us back late at night playing tracks that we've heard thousands of times before because they suddenly sound so real with Audio Research. 

Aesthetically, Audio research has a timeless elegance to it not only because of the valves but also the brushed aluminium finish. There's no plastic add ons with this brand or ostentatious flashing, multi-coloured lights...

Like a German piano from the early 20th century, you lust after them because they're beautiful pieces of furniture but also because their sound is rich & warm yet clearer and more natural than others.

For many people, like myself, Audio Research is an aspirational brand, something we hope, with a bit of luck will grace our living rooms one day. But with the new offering of the i50, we hope that day will come sooner for us all. 

Audio Research has spent years perfecting this design so as not to compromise on their stingent standards of quality and tone but to nevertheless offer something at a more modest price level. You can opt out of a built-in phono stage or DAC module depending on your needs as well. Learn More

The Hegel H390 arrived only a short time ago and it has already managed to impress some hardend and cynical ears at Carlton Audio Visual. In fact, at the moment we have it on main rotation in the Lygon st demo room because it's sounds so good on such a range of speakers.

This demo space is used not only to entertain staff while they're beavering away doing the office work but also to run in speakers. With all the choice we have in store, I found myself going back to this amp when I had a choice on which one to pair with the Acoustic Energy Coriniums that are now being run in.

The thing of these Hegel amps is the damping factor. That is the ability of the amplifier to overcome the reactive load and spring effect of the loudspeaker drive units and render absolute control over the micro motions of the transducer cones.

It gives you such grip and control and it's warm fast and dynamic whilst being super easy to listen to, Plus all that on board streaming means I can sit in the office typing away and change the song via Roon or Tidal. This is a serious amplifier with serious streaming capabilities built-in.

Come and listen today, you'll be impressed too.

Hegel H390 official site. 

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Available in store for Audition

• Audiophile valve integrated amplifier
• High-end sound performance and exceptional build quality
• 80W output from push-pull Class AB amplifier with tube power stage

This is a lovely piece of engineering art with excellent fit and finish that differentiates it immediately from so many of the Chinese made rebadge products that are on the market.This high performance amplifiers brings out the best of other components in the system. Created by those obsessed with great sound and for those who love great music. The result is 80 watts of pure pentode output per channel built around a double triode 12AX7 on input and a 12BH7 tube as phase splitter and a pair of Gold Lion Russian Made KT88/6550 power tubes in push-pull configuration for a detailed, delicate and dynamic sound.

The critical transformers and other components are made in house by Synthesis under the aegis of Mr Lorenzo. We have found this product range to be exceptionally reliable in peoples homes.

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This little brother carries the charisma and quality of the X5 dinosaur killer in a sleeker 30Kg package and that is desperately affordable ... relatively ...

The new S2, second generation of the integrated amplifier has a new DAC. That's the only difference with the new version. The word on the ground is that that's due to the AKM factory fire and continuing supply shortages of those chips. They've swapped the chips out for ESS Sabre DACs of very good quality.

 

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A classic integrated amplifier that takes it cues from its celebrated 30 year heritage. The best Nait amplifier to date.

Naim put the money into their componentry where it counts and where there is auditive sound benefit, not where corporate bosses enforce an obscure cost/benefit analysis. That's why Naim has such a cult following in the HiFi industry. And their reputation is again reinforced with this super amplifier. On sheer tactility and product feel you know thios is going to be a really special amplifier before you even switch it on. Think a good modern Bentley ...

Naim products bought from us, a genuine approved Naim dealer, include the full 2 year warranty.

Here's Kevin from Upscale Audio talking about the Supernait 3...and SPIVs and commissions in the HiFi business (Carlton Audio Visual agrees with Kevin in this respect)

Naim SUPERNAIT 3 Official site.

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