Audiophilepure

https://www.stereophile.com/content/rotel-michi-m8-monoblock-power-amplifier

As I write this easy-to-write conclusion, I’m listening to an original pressing of Joni Mitchell’s Clouds (RS 6341). It’s not as murky-sounding as her David Crosby– produced debut, Song to a Seagull, which Mitchell recently remixed for the new 4-LP Reprise-era box set, but it still puts her in a warm environment in one channel with her equally warm guitar in the other. As my system improved, the sound of this album worsened, but more recently, as the system continued to improve, the album’s sonics have come out on the other side of murky to pleasingly well-detailed, warm, and cozy. The M8 delivers all the subtle sonic and musical goods this album can give.

Having the M8s in-house was a pleasant surprise and one of the most enjoyable visits made by any piece of audio gear that’s been here over the past 21 years—and for a change, it’s affordable, at least by my usual standards. Mikey didn’t like it: Mikey loved it.

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/primare-i35-prisma-integrated-amplifier-1/

The Primare I35 Prisma isn’t the only game in town, of course, and there are other fully integrated units that stream music from local and online sources with similar aplomb, but there’s something about the Primare option that’s beguiling. Perhaps it’s the absence of nonsense, the way it makes everything sound musically entertaining and enjoyable, or perhaps its the sheer ease of use. I’m pleased on a number of levels to have stepped from I35 to I35 Prisma, even though I suspect in today’s world most people will just opt for the full-fat Prisma version. But that insight into how we relate to streaming and how it changes our perception for the better will stay with me

No doubt you can spend a lot more money on amplifiers ranging from $50,000 and up, and I’d be the last to dissuade anyone from chasing audio rainbows as vigorously as they please. The gains will be there in tonality, dynamics, and filigree of detail, particularly in the treble. But the JC 1+ monoblocks come so darned close to the best, in so many categories, that for more than a few listeners it may seem an otiose pursuit to look elsewhere. Parasound and John Curl deserve a rousing round of applause for producing a real-world-priced amplifier that delivers otherworldly sound.

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1558-rotel-ra-1572mkii-integrated-amplifier-dac

When I was a budding audiophile, Rotel was one of the first brands I became aware of. The fun I had using their RA-1572MKII integrated-DAC reminded me of why I got into audio all those years ago. It provides a huge amount of sound quality at a price within reach of the serious but budget-conscious enthusiast. It lacks the streaming and/or DSP and/or room correction of some of the costlier integrateds I’ve recently reviewed, but at this price you have to make some choices. What it offers is excellent sound, a high-resolution DAC that supports MQA, a good MM phono input, and a good headphone amp—all features that many audiophiles will appreciate. For only $2099, the high-powered Rotel RA-1572MKII offers one of today’s best combinations of price and performance in an integrated amplifier-DAC.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/rotel-michi-x3-integrated-amplifier

The combination of great recordings and the kind of loving transcription that are the hallmark of the 2xHD project makes the music spring to life anew, and the Michi X3 has all the speed, warmth and control to make the most of it. And that held true whether with my big old PMC OB1 speakers or the smaller, faster Neat Iota Xplorer.

And if there was any doubt of the massive clean power here, a swift play of the big, magnificent LSO/Noseda recording of Shostakovich’s 9th Symphony [LSO Live LSO0828; DSD256] shows that soundstaging, agility and massive clout off to great effect. Despite the dynamic swings involved – and you can crank the volume level as high as you want – there’s no hardening of the sound or suggestion of the X3 raising a bead of sweat as it breezes through the huge musical event.

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1558-rotel-ra-1572mkii-integrated-amplifier-dac

Lyngdorf Audio’s similarly priced TDAI-1120 integrated ($2199, review coming soon) has many more features, including streaming, bass management, and room correction—but it couldn’t drive my MartinLogan electrostats to the room-filling levels I could get with the Rotel RA-1572MKII. However, for driving smaller, more efficient speakers—e.g., the PSB Alpha T20s—in a smaller room, and/or for integrating a subwoofer(s) and using room correction, the Lyngdorf is an excellent choice at this price. But when used as a straight stereo integrated driving nearly full-range speakers, the Lyngdorf couldn’t compete with the Rotel.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/avm-ovation-62-me-integrated-amplifier

Call it bad memory or confirmation bias, but after a month of daily listening, I concluded that the AVM A 6.2 ME sounded a lot like those classic class-A amplifiers of yesteryore, which sounded like they had full control and weren’t leaving any information behind. They sounded musically right and complete. The AVM A 6.2 ME integrated sounded that kind of right, with a little fairy dust sprinkled on top.