The best way to avoid obsolescence in your integrated is to have relatively few features. DACs and streaming formats that can be decoded by those DACs are what go obsolete most frequently. Having an external solution for that would be the best way to future proof your amp. Personally, I would look for an integrated that doesn't have a lot of digital features and get an external DAC. That being said, I do really like the way those simaudio moon integrated amps sound.

The Rogue Audio Pharoah with PS Audio NuWave DAC and the PS Audio Power Generator would be nice. The Pharoah is $3500 and the NuWave is $1200 I think. In the same range combined as the simaudio. Line conditioning and voltage regulators make a big difference if your power is mediocre in your house. The Musical Fidelity M6si might also be worth considering. A few people have posited they got one recently and love it.

Sonic Guild wrote:

What integrated amp, cables and power conditioner would you recommend for the Olympica 3?
I am looking for an integrated amp that can be a future proof option, in case I upgrade my speakers. I totally understand that synergy is important factor and if I purchase an amp for the Olympica 3 it might not match another speakers.

I am thinking of Simaudio Moon 340i + PS Audio P5 power generator + ??? cables (no idea yet).

Demoing audio gear is not an option in my city. Unfortunately it must be a blind purchase!

I suggest that you consider the Marantz PM-10 and the Musical Fidelity M6si.

Both of these are outstanding integrated amplifiers, and have enough power to drive any speaker you will ever own. When an amplifier has this much power and excellent sonics, "synergy" is not really an issue, because the amplifier is very neutral.

There is an article in the current issue of The Absolute Sound on the new power conditioner from Audioquest, and that may be of interest.

The new power conditioner from Audioquest is called the Niagara 7000.

Rogue's are a class D hybrid. Class D's tend to be forward. That Pharoah sounds like a slightly forward solid state amp. I have the Hydra which is a 100w power amp using the same Tube D design and it is spectacular. I agree, a traditional tube amp would be a poor choice unless you want a very warm sound.

You are correct, you can bypass the DAC in the Simaudio unit but you are paying a lot of money for that DAC. i find Simaudio equipment extremely accurate and detailed. With a slightly forward speaker like a B&W, it might make you want to take an ice pick to your ears. With those Olympica's, it could be a good pairing.

I think you would be fine with any of the units mentioned by me or commsysman and that Simaudio will be fine. I think unless you were to go with a pure tube amp, the color of the speaker will overwhelm the sound profile of the power amp. Incidentally, I find Sonia Faber speakers to be highly colored. Not my cup of tea, but if you love them that is typically why you love them.

Krell also makes an integrated in this price range that might be worth looking at as does McIntosh.

Are you only limited to integrated amp or are you open to separates? Cause for your speakers and what they are capable of I think you will be better off using good quality separates. But if you still want to stick with an integrated I would recommend at least stepping up to the Musical Fidelity M6500i or the Nu-Vista 600 and get good a quality source component (streamer/DAC or cd player etc). Or I would also look at the McIntosh MC7009 integrated or something from VAC or Mark Levinson.

I've heard a Sonus Faber Aida driven by a pair of Audio Research Reference monoblock tube amps with Reference preamp and they sounded phenomenal.
I've also heard your speakers driven by McIntosh separates and the pairing sounded fabolous. The Simaudio will also sound good on the Sonus Faber.
It will be better if you step up to the Simaudio Evolution series integrated or separates. I used to have the Simaudio Evolution integrated driving my Wilson Audio Duette ii standmount speakers in my bedroom setup. They sounded very good. Sonically the Simaudio especially their Evolution series (top end series) is flawless IMO.

The Pass Labs will also be a good pairing for the Sonus Faber. But IMO the Audio Research and McIntosh will sound very good on your speakers.
Give it a good source component (streamer/DAC or cd player etc).

And do not skimp on cables / interconnects / ac power cords etc. I think if you go with either McIntosh or Audio Research or Simaudio the Transparent or the Audioquest or the Nordost cables will have great synergy together. I'm personally using the Transparent cables with Shunyata Research ac power cords in all my setups.

As for the ac power line conditioner I like the Shunyata or the Audioquest Niagara 7000. I previously had all the Shunyata power line conditioners but have switched to all Audioquest Niagara 7000 in all my setups. IMO the Niagara 7000 is slightly superior and the soundstage and imaging emerged from blacker backgrounds with broader and deeper soundstage and the music overall has more weight and more focused with slightly better dynamics too.
The Shunyata was also impressive but IMO the Niagara 7000 slightly outperformed it.

Hope this helps. Demo as many as you can and let your ears be the judge of it. Let us know what you finally decide on.