Build(it's like a tank), velvet sound,

none for me

This is the best amp i've ever used. The sound comes out from this lovely machine like thick velvet, sweet & smooth.
The lack of power at extreme high levels of volume is not a weakness for me. It is strongle recomended to anyone wants to buy an int-amp within this price range.

My system is :

Speakers: Triangle Antal XS
CD Player Creek CD-53
Interconnect: Siltech
Speaker Cables: DNM Reson
Room : Approx 110m2

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marantz pk80II SE

I have gone through an upgrading process with my budget system which started out as Optimus Pro LX-4's, an NAD 304 Integrated Amp, a Rotel 970-BX CD player, Kimber PBJ and 8TC cables, and black diamond cones under everything. I had purchased a pair of Impact Technology transmission line speakers from Bob Cohen of The Cable Company/Ultrasystems fame and realized that these new speakers were revealing problems with my amplification. I want to tell you all about the amplifier I purchased to replace my NAD, the Anthem Integrated 1. It's a 25 Watt push-pull integrated made by Sonic Frontiers which uses 2 sets of 4 Sovtek EL84's in the output and 2 matched pairs of 12AU7's and 1 12AT7 in the input. First impressions were good, the amp had more power, more bottom end, more AIR, a wider, bigger, more defined soundstage, more detail and more smoothness. The pace was somewhat slowed I felt and I will return to this. The bigger problem was a stridency which was unexpected. I felt the highs were strident even though they were more liquid. I suspected the Chinese made 12AU7's which were used at one of the 2 pairs. The other pair was some Jan Philips. So, I replaced the Chinese tubes with some RCA's and left the Jan Phillips alone. Gone were the strident highs. More smooth overall, maybe too smooth?? I also later changed out the stock 12AT7 in favor of a Mullard. Better yet. (Don't listen to the SF techies who claim that the stock tubeset is the best for the preamp section--bullshit!! The Chinese tubes suck!!) Later on I switched from Kimber to Tara Klyma and Synergistic Research Sterling Alpha. The Alpha interconnects were superior and brought back some of the speed I mentioned before. The Tara's were smoother overall, yet not as bass intensive, nor quite as revealing as the Kimber 8TC. I say it's a toss up there on cables. Now as far as the Integrated 1 was shaping up, I was having a good time with it. It's a system which can be converted from integrated configuration to either preamp or amp by making a simple snipping of two internal wires. The internal wiring is kimber anyway, so go get yourself a pair of PBJ's and snip away. You can use the PBJ's to externally convert the separated component back to its original integrated form. (Strange as it may seem, I got better sound with the .5 meter PBJ's hooked up post snip) I mention this feature of the unit because it allows you to evaluate the sound of each part separately and it also allows for you to upgrade without trashing your entire amplification system completely. With tube upgrades in place, the amp section I felt was still the better section. There was plenty of power, punch and volume to work quite well in my 15X13 room and with three different types of speakers: the transmission lines, the Optimus's, and the KEF Q20's which I borrowed. This is for sure a good amp mate for transmission line speakers. As far as the preamp goes I'd say it's pretty good, but not hands down better than the preamp section on the NAD 304, so if I were buying the Integrated, I'd look to upgrade the preamp section first. I would also expect the preamp of the Anthem Pre 1-L to be superior. However, it's good enough with the tube upgrades I mentioned that you'll appreciate the synergy of the two sections well enough that you won't want to go looking for a better preamp for some time. And if you do go looking, try a passive that's cheap but good like the Purest Sound Systems stuff or the Creek line of passives, which are less than $500. The amp: A- the Preamp: B+ The Integrated: 4 Stars.

After listening to the range of mass produced solid state junk, the only thing that truly impressed me was the Naim nait-3 integrated (Which I Still inted to get, someday). Arcam (aplha 8 & 9) were just not enough overall to justify a 1000-1300 dollar outlay; little definition but smooth. Rotel was just too harsh and not really musical. Then I found the Anthem integrated 1. An amazing little thing! 25 watts of class A/B tube sound. I was expecting rolled off highs and lows, but what I found was a solid, albeit slightly under powered at times bass foundation, but oddly only on certain rock tracks. Kick drums don't have the attack of good solid state stuff, but bass guitar and timpani and the like shake the hell out of my room. (??) At the retail price of $1400 Canadian, better can be found, if you like sharp/clean music. But finding this thing barely used at $900, I went for it. The soundstage it presents would make you think you were listening to a Krell or Classe', without the intense bass impact. As far as "budget" tube amps go, this thing is wonderful. It just makes beautiful music. Just make sure your speakers are fairly sensitive, and this thing will sing.5 stars for overall sound, but for out and out power and bass, 4 stars.

I was really scared to even bring this one home. 25 WPC? What's that gonna do? Anyway, bring home I did and connected to Vandersteen 2CEs which I was running at the time. Played some music and gave up after 1/2 hour-the sound was bright and there was almost no low end. I left the amp on, went out, and returned some 7 hours later. Again I begin to listen and this sound was different. Not bright in the least and a pace which I decided must be absolutely perfect. I ended up buying this amp and was very happy with it until I tried to drive Thiel 1.5s. I will say that what I heard was of quality, but there was a lot the speaker wanted to do that the amp couldn't. This amp is flawed though. It has a very limited application due to its power output and lightweight bass response. It is, however, one of the best in terms of getting pace, timing, and rythym correct. I owned a Jolida SJ 502(messy, messy, messy) before this amp and a Musical Fidelity A220(see my review) after and both were of considerablly less quality.

smooth yet detailed sound

no headphone jack

I picked up one of these used and the previous owner had replaced the chinese tubes with JAN Philips tubes. I love the sound, it's my first 'hi-end' amp and I am very impressed with the detail and soundstaging of this amp. When I was shopping I did listen to NAD, Rotel, and Linn, but for the price I paid, nothing sounded better to my ears. I currently have it hooked up to a pair of Paradigm MiniMonitors.

This is a great piece of equipment to get you into the tube world. Retailfor $1295, you can't go wrong with it. Build and parts quality are superb.
Although I have to admit some stock tubes are the Chinese, but they
aren't inferior. Part of the tube world game is to get the tubes
to match your taste. Retubing this amp isn't that expensive (okay, depending
on what you are after) for this amp.
This amp puts out 25W smooth and detail tube power. No problem driving my
86dB speakers. If you still think 25W isn't going to do nothing, you are
wrong :) This amp excells in small scale orchestral music and vocal
performance. The only shortcoming is the lows. It won't dip down very much
without becoming too soft. Hey, but this is more than you can ask for
in its class. Definitely worth an audition.

soundstage, accuracy

lack of focus in bass (when left stock)

I'd just like to say to anyone who owns this unit, and is'nt
pleased with the bass performance, try a set of audio research tube dampers on all the preamp tubes. The're only$5
per set (you use two per tube), they have really helped-
better performance overall, bigger, tighter bass. Also, this may sound crazy, but have your selector switch cleaned by an experienced technician, preferably by your dealer. My dealer used Napa Brako brake parts cleaner (in a spray can)to clean it, then used Pro Gold to improve the contact. My sound was transformed. Much more revealing. Good Luck.

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audio analogue puccini s.e.

soundstage, accuracy

lack of focus in bass (when left stock)

I'd just like to say to anyone who owns this unit, and is'nt
pleased with the bass performance, try a set of audio research tube dampers on the preamp tubes. The're only $5
per set (you use two per tube), they have really helped-
better performance overall. Much more revealing. Good Luck.

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audio analogue puccini s.e.

I didn't expect the Integrated 1 to sound like a Bryston 5b in the low-end, and it didn't. But it did much better than I expected. The lows from those little 6BQ5s were very satisfying and well defined. The highs were very easy on my delicate ears and the imaging was first class with very good detail. You're not going to find a better sounding rig for this kind of money. The quality is very good when compared to high-end stuff. It has a great look and feel.

I had purchased a used Classe CAP-100 amp and quite frankly it made me squirm in my seat. Way to forward, to in your face sounding. The good fellows at Christopher Hansen let me take that back and they had just gotten in a used Int-1. I was a little leary about even dragging it home, since it hadn't gotten rave reviews from the press (look where that got me with the CAP-100). The Int-1 is here to stay! Nice low end, smooth highs and a beautiful soundstage. And the bass was later tightened up with the addition of a Cardas Quadlink 5-C Power Cord. A wonderful entry into the world of tubes!Rest of System:
Linn LP-12 w/ Lingo power supply
Ekos tonearm
Audioquest B-200 cartridge
Linto phono pre-amp
Meadowlark Kestral speakers (Hot Rod)
Cardas cables