Audiophilepure

https://www.hifinews.com/content/trafomatic-rhapsody-integrated-amplifier

Trafomatic’s Rhapsody ensured that I wallowed in the room-filling, full-blown orchestral readings of ‘White Christmas’, ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’, some wholly (or holy) instrumental, others with multiple voices to the fore. What was not compromised, despite the Rhapsody amplifier eschewing lushness for the sake of it, was that silky sheen which endears SET designs to the faithful. The best way to describe it is an inherent antidote to listener fatigue.

If there is any limit to this amplifier’s sheer command, it might prove to be the wattage, but that only affects your choice of loudspeaker. When paired with high-sensitivity models, the Trafomatic Rhapsody earns the most glowing testimony I can bestow on a product by simply stating one fact: my first listening session ran for seven uninterrupted hours. Yes, seven. The only downside? Looking at the smart meter in my listening room.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-l-509z-integrated-amplifier

Some amplifiers make you work to understand their meaning and message. Others shout their personalities like “Swifties” about to see their heroine. The Luxman L-509Z never shouts, barks, or begs. Its message is clarity, balance, coherence, seamlessness, quietude, and a certain invisibility—in keeping, I believe, with a Japanese audio aesthetic of delivering music artifact free, above all else.

As Luxman’s evolving noise-suppression technologies make the company’s amplifiers more silent, what is left behind is purity and focus. The L-509Z builds on tradition without losing the plot. It’s an exacting integrated amplifier with a good phono stage, a bevy of control options, and plenty of power. The Japanese company’s flagship integrated merits a “Sai-kōkyu” designation. We call it Class A.

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1220-audionet-humboldt-integrated-amplifier

Audionet’s Humboldt integrated amplifier isn’t just a reference-level integrated amplifier; it’s a statement-level integrated amplifier. At a scarcely believable $58,500, it damn well should be. And after months of listening across a variety of partnering loudspeakers, I can report that it’s not only the highest performance class-AB integrated amplifier I’ve reviewed but also the most enjoyable. I found its combination of deep power reserves, extreme transparency, and cavernous soundstaging beguiling. Allied to a dead-neutral frequency response, I’m not sure you could ask for anything more from a topflight, modern integrated amp. It’s costly, but the best often is.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/leak-stereo-230-integrated-amplifier

The class-AB Leak provided a sense of color, ease, purity, and expressiveness I don’t normally associate with class-AB topology. Maybe with class-A? Maybe with tubes?

Any nitpicks? Bend my arm, and I might concede that the 230’s highs might not have been as airy or extended as those from some of the more expensive gear I’ve heard, but the Leak brings so much to the table—quality sound, sturdy build quality, functional versatility, a 3-year warranty—that I feel a bit cheap nitpicking. I didn’t hear a $1500 product; I heard a well-designed product regardless of price. The Stereo 230 exceeded my expectations. But you probably expected me to say that.