I would look at the Ayre Acoustics AX-7E. It is a damn nice integrated and will give you the tighter bass you desire. It doesn't have an internal phono stage. I would look at the Musical Fidelity MX VYNL. I think the Ayre is $3950 while the Musical Fidelity is $999. I know it is expensive for a 60w integrated but Ayre is super musical, wonderful sounding equipment. It also has two, fully balanced inputs which would work well with your DAC and MX-VYNL is a very nice, fully balanced phono stage.

d..red.. wrote:

Have a Croft Phono Integrated paired with Harbeth SHL5 fed with, MMF 5.1, Benchmark DAC2 HGC fed by mac mini. Love the mids on the croft but not nearly enough low end for me. Also, it seems to have akward voicing for some recordings. Would like a little more punch. Looking to get in for less than 6K for integrated or pre-amp / amp setup. Used is fine if providence can be verified. Recently purchased off of audiogon and that went well.

Value clarity and soundstage, don't mind highs to be sweetened a bit. I know it isn't pure, but some tonal adjustments to help poor recordings would be nice, also a remote. Auditioned a McInt MA5200 and was left a bit flat.

Thoughts?

I think your speakers are more of an issue than the amplifier.

On the other hand, if you love the speakers and want to get more out of them, there are certainly amplifiers that will do that.

The Musical Fidelity M6si is an excellent-sounding integrated amplifier that will fill the bill, and it is a relative steal at only $2995. Its very high power will certainly provide all the punch that the speakers can deliver, and that may be what is needed. IMO it competes with some of the best integrated amps that cost twice as much; very neutral and clean.