If you are into used, I would recommend McIntosh amps (here or ebay) if you can find one in good shape.

Denon 3800 DVD offers good sound as well ($450 ecost.com) refurb.

Speakers are difficult to suggest - I would listen to your type of music on big names like Paradigm, PSB, Mission, Monitor audio, etc and go with the one you fall in love with. Try to find one with good tranparent tweeter.

gonglee3 September 12, 2003 15:29

I mean for speakers, try Dynaudio 1.3SE
used ~$2000

abe_av September 08, 2003 07:50

price is $2000 +/- $200 used on Audiogon.

abe_av September 04, 2003 22:07

I'm not familiar with the Unico at all. That might tell you what i was talking about in terms of power ratings by reason of logical deductions : ) Sean
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sean August 17, 2003 18:42

I did notice that the Unico sounded a little compressed when I cranked up some Stevie Ray Vaughn in my latest audition of the Unico. With my vocal tracks (James Taylor and Jennifer Warnes) it sounded bery nice with the Shnaling cdt-100 source and Proac Tablette reference 8 speakers.

I've heard the Creek 5350se with some Opera Super Pavarotti's after listening to them with a Krell kav300i. I was quite impressed with it's performance. Any great integrated tube experiences, out there?

I've yet to hear the revel M20's. I look forward to auditioning those, some Dynaudio contours and the Von Schweikert VR-1s on my net roadie south of the border.

thanks again for all the input. As a newbie to this forum, I'm impressed with the immense knowledge of all things audio here.

conscious August 17, 2003 16:20

I've heard good things about the Unico. In your price range, I would try a Philips SACD 1000 for about 550 used. In the integrated market, I would also consider the Creek 5350 SE, or a Sim audio. Speakers I would have to suggest the Revel M20.

s7horton August 17, 2003 00:18

The fudge has GOT to be the Unico ... most amps with tubes will look worse on paper than their solid state counterparts. Then again, what difference does "paper" make if it sounds great???

jrinkerptdnet August 16, 2003 12:20

Thanks for the advice, Sean. Yeah, I think I have been looking at solid state integrated amps (that's what's available in my price range in my local retailers here in Vancouver) and therefore my speakers have not been super efficient. I guess i'm looking for advice on whether to tube or not to tube. My speaker's will follow from that decision.

Re: "I'm not going to name names, but one of the amps you mentioned "fudges" a lot of information to make it look more acceptable on paper"
Please name names! I thought that's what we're here for. I have just read the magazine and online reviews of the Unico and the Moon I-5 and of course "they won't bite the hand that feeds" so I didn't notice anything amiss with those. Could you explain further?

Thanks, I look forward to more feedback.

conscious August 15, 2003 17:53

It sounds like you want something "better" but don't know exactly it is that you want or how to go about it. Before spending any money, you need to sit down and examine your goals and how various components will interface with those goals and your room. If you go the route of a low powered tube integrated, you'll need pretty efficient non reactive speakers and / or be willing to live with low spl's, limited bass output and control, etc... Most of the speakers that you listed are "reasonable" loads, so i don't see a problem in that area unless you are really keen on LOW powered units. As a side note, you should really do some research on the various power ratings, power bandwidth, distortion characteristics of the units that you are considering. I'm not going to name names, but one of the amps you mentioned "fudges" a lot of information to make it look more acceptable on paper. Sean
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sean August 15, 2003 16:22