OK, I stand here with my wrists firmly slapped and with humble pie ready to eat...

On the NEW market (NOT used), what £500 integrated amp would you consider. My first choice of the Brio R is well documented, as are the reasons why I like it (plenty of dealers and after sales backup/customer care), but what else is actually out there able to do the job properly and in an involving way?

Anyone heard the current Cambridge Audio ones, or do Harman Kardon do a £500 model like a scaled down HK990? Plenty of good choice for a grand or more, but £500? NAD used to do good cheapies, the bigger ones worse if anything (sloppy music delivery) and the Chinese? Roksan Kandy k2 was a horrible powerhouse that couldn't hold a tune of it tried (not that an amp is supposed to do anything of the sort, but you lot know what I mean). What are the Chinese Audiolabs like as well as a Cyrus all alone and without add-ons?

Over to you, and hopefully there's plenty to be learned by myself as well as everyone else

P.S. Do perspex cased products only available mail order on ebay count?????