2. amps-preamps
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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 3 responses by ryder

ryder
1,746 posts
 

So, I reached out to Kent @Pass for his thoughts. (I’ve know him for a quite while.) He basically said it could be viable but in terms of sonic bliss, body and weight the integrated wouldn’t match those separates. So, I decided to keep ’em separated.

 

Did he recommend or say anything about the INT 250? If out of Pass Labs, there are many other high quality integrateds that may provide the body and weight while retaining the refinement and detail. Vitus RI-101mk2 or one of the Class A options may be a contender. Costly though. One would never know until he listens to the gear in the system.

ryder
1,746 posts
 

It’s good to notice the positive experiences of folks who have gone the integrated route. After messing around with various integrateds and pre/power for many years, I think I have found my endgame integrated, a Luxman L-590AXII. It may not be the costliest or the best in the market but it just delivers. With select speakers, the Luxman integrated outperforms another costlier separates which are now relegated to the second system.


System synergy particularly the match between the amp and speakers is more important than the quality of the amp in my book. Nevertheless, the quality or attributes of the amp are still essential in ensuring a high quality sound reproduction. Integrated amps have evolved considerably throughout the years as we now have a rather vast choice of high quality and costly integrateds to choose from. Separates may still have an edge in terms of performance but I think the gap between integrated and separates has reduced.

ryder
1,746 posts
 

The Pass Labs XA-60.5 monoblocks look like some serious amps, beautiful too. Perhaps keep them since John Atkinson thought that way.

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