Price: $3000
Website: www.hegel.com
Roger said: At $3000, Hegel Music Systems’ H120 provides high qualities of amplification and digital-to-analog conversion, in addition to basic streaming capabilities, in a solidly built and well-executed design.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: When every feature is well thought out and combined with excellent sound design.
Price: $2000
Website: www.hegel.com
Doug said: But the H95 smashes it in the same area that other Hegel amps I’ve heard have smashed it: sound quality.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Select features add to the appeal.
Price: $4900
Website: www.lab12.gr
Oliver said: Its powerful, punchy, dynamic sound was a treat for the ears, and its fine timing did justice to all genres of music.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Greek-made tube integrated offers solid value for money.
Price: $4900
Website: www.lineartubeaudio.com
Oliver said: . . . if your musical diet consists mainly of small-scale music -- a girl or guy with a guitar, acoustic world music, or chamber music -- I’m betting you’ll love how the Z10 reproduces it.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Very good integrated amplifier in some limited applications.
Price: $7995
Website: www.luxman.com
Oliver said: It is an extraordinary integrated amplifier that more than continues the legacy of its predecessors, and resoundingly reinforces Luxman’s ethos of providing “Ultimate Fidelity.”
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The gist: The best integrated amplifier that Oliver has heard -- and he reviews a lot of them.
Price: $6499
Website: www.lyngdorf.com
Roger said: I think I enjoyed Lyngdorf Audio’s TDAI-3400 more than I have any other component I’ve reviewed.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Outstanding combination of features and sound quality in this integrated amplifier-DAC.
Price: $6000
Website: www.pmc-speakers.com
Diego said: It essentially matched the sound quality of my McIntosh Laboratory separates, which together cost almost 50% more: $11,500.
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The gist: Old-school integrated amplifier sounds as good as separates.
Price: $14,000
Website: www.simaudio.com
Hans said: If you want an integrated amp that comes admirably close to the ideal of a straight wire with gain, this model should be at the top of your shortlist.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: No editorializing on the music with this one.