If you can find an integrated you love, it makes everything a lot simpler. No worry about synergy, impedance matching, looks of the gear in the rack together (that can be important, waf) and of corse power cords and interconnects. On the other hand, if you don't mind the above obstacles mixing and matching can be fun. If I had the money, I would go after a great integrated. I no longer believe you sacrifice sound quality with integrateds, there is a lot of them in the market now that sound absolutely outstanding. On top of that, we are going to see some hit the market with DACs built in to give people kind of a one box solution.
advantage of seperates vs integrated
I have been thinking of a change to seperates but.. I was weighing the advantages of a seperate amp/pre as opposed to using integrated (I have use of Classe CAP 151 right now). What I'd like to go to would be all Solid State Audio Research to mate with my CD 3 Mk 2. The additional questions would be; would the ARC SS provide better bottom end to the Apogee Slant 6 I lsten to and would it also provide a deeper and wider sound stage advantage for the investment of approx. $2200-$2700 post sale of existing equipment as I listen primarily to soft rock, new age and jazz? Currently the sound is very good and very smooth, would the change be worth it? Thanks for the opinion.