Help me choose an integrated amp for my system (max budget $3000)

[dvon1981]

I recently started building what to me is my first great home stereo. The primary role of the system is to play vinyl. I'm looking to upgrade my current amp , an NAD 356BEE to get more out of the rest of my components. Looking to cap budget at $3k

Here's the rest of my system:

Turntable: Rega RP6

Phono Stage: Clear Audio Basic

Speakers: Audio. Physic Classic 10


Here are some artists I've played recently to give you an idea of what my needs might be:

Buckingham Nicks

Led Zeppelin

Dire Straights

Weather Report

Faith No More

Tom Petty

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ImcLoud]

I think you can get great sound for much less than $3000.

Does it have to be integrated or will a pre and separate amps be ok?

you can get a parasound a23 which will give you 200x2 at 4 ohms for $750 ish and a p5 for $1000 or so or a classic 2100 of $550, I would personally be looking at an emotive usp1 and a pair of xpa100's, or a parasound 2100 and a pair of outlaw 2200's either way you can not go wrong...

As far as "high end" integrated's go, IMO they start at the mcintosh ma6300 and them are a little over $4000, and even then the "hearable" sq difference is almost non existent....

 

[dvon1981]

I hadn't considered Parasound but looks like my local shop has them. A couple other suggestions I've gotten are:

Naim Nait XS

Musical Fidelity M6i

 

[ImcLoud]

there are tons of integrateds out there, nad, onkyo, yamaha, marantz, pioneer, teac, music hall, Rega, creek, peachtree, Luxman , Krell, ect, but to me for the most part they sound the same, I honestly love the sound and output of my Topping TP60 tripath {something about little t amps they sound great}.

I am all for short signal paths, but when connecting a lot of sources and when using phone equipment a preamp/amp system is nice...