2. amps-preamps
  3. 176198-10803

After years of separates, I'm going integrated. Anyone else do the same?

I'm rethinking my listening room. I want my audio rack to be more minimalist vs lots of boxes, wires, and clutter. I know separates, in general, will sound better. However, at the level of my system, I'm not certain the difference would be as apparent. In the grand scheme of things of Audiophilia, my level of components are mid-fi at best (BHK Pre, First Watt J2, Elac PPA-2 phono, Pro-ject s2 Dac, ZU Omen Defs)

I'm favoring one of the Luxman Class A's (I know Luxman is getting out of the Class A business. The only way I would favor a built-in Dac is if it were upgradable like McIntosh or Accuphase. I'm guessing a Luxman or Mac built-in phono would sound just as good as to what I have now (Elac PPA-2).

So the question is, who else has gone to integrated? Do you regret the move or are you glad you did?

 

aberyclark

Showing 1 response by eugene81

eugene81
269 posts
 

I tried in 2 systems, but just came full circle back to separates in both.  I guess I realized I'm more picky than I thought.  I also like to try new things, mostly DACs.  I'll continue to keep an open mind and evaluate new integrateds, but I'm pretty happy with the sound I'm getting from my current separates.  I went through some good ones in the last year: McIntosh MA352, Hegel H390, Accuphase E650, Mola Mola Kula (w/Tambaqui), Boulder 866 (digital).  All great in their own right, but just missing a little something.  I would have stuck with the Accuphase if I didn't happen upon my longstanding "dream amp".  In my other system, I would have stuck with the Boulder if I hadn't tried an MSB Analog DAC, which the Boulder's built-in DAC, as very good as it is, couldn't quite stand up to.

The moral of the story is: if you're happy with what you've got, don't try anything else!!

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