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 retiredfarmer

retiredfarmer's avatar
retiredfarmer
339 posts
 

Well I am changing the system in my bedroom around to do exactly what you are saying. I bought a serviced Wadia CD 6. That has a volume control. A set of long interconnects and a pair of mono blocks with a short pair of speaker wires. At the moment it is running through a melody h88 integrated. Sounding beautiful. I am in the hunt for the proper monoblocks at the moment. The melody is an early one made in Australia and there were oilers put into it. Upgraded small tubes. It is really a beautiful sounding amp. You might want to look for one hard to find the early ones though. You might want to look for a Canary integrated as well. I have not heard one but I have heard there seperates which are special. The problem I have is I don't do streaming so have no idea about that and the ones I know and think are good you will need another box for the streaming. 

 

Regards

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