If someone answers your question in the abstract, you'll probably get a different answer than one that is specific to your budget and listening objectives.
As several have already suggested, we need more info from you to be able to provide a good answer. There are some really excellent integrateds on the market today, but the better ones are not cheap -- the best ones start at around $3000, and run up to around $6000 (for example, the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista, which is one of the best and most powerful integrateds, retails for $6k).
First and foremost, what is your budget? If you have a modest budget -- say, $1500-2000 -- you may well get better performance from an integrated (such as the Creek 5350SE) than from a preamp and power amp with the same combined price tag.
Second, how much power do you think you will need? This is an indirect way of also asking: how big is your listening room; how efficient are your speakers; and what are your listening tastes (listening to symphonic music, or rock at high volumes, places very different demands on the amp than listening to chamber music).
Third, what kind of speakers will you be using? Some speakers perform just fine with amps that provide moderate current, while others really need a high-current amp to "sing".
Last, what are your future plans for your system? If you intend to continue upgrading in the relatively near future, you might be better advised to save some more money and make the jump directly to separate components (not the same as making the jump to hyperspace...).
If you can respond to these questions, I think our "gurus" can give you a better answer.
As several have already suggested, we need more info from you to be able to provide a good answer. There are some really excellent integrateds on the market today, but the better ones are not cheap -- the best ones start at around $3000, and run up to around $6000 (for example, the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista, which is one of the best and most powerful integrateds, retails for $6k).
First and foremost, what is your budget? If you have a modest budget -- say, $1500-2000 -- you may well get better performance from an integrated (such as the Creek 5350SE) than from a preamp and power amp with the same combined price tag.
Second, how much power do you think you will need? This is an indirect way of also asking: how big is your listening room; how efficient are your speakers; and what are your listening tastes (listening to symphonic music, or rock at high volumes, places very different demands on the amp than listening to chamber music).
Third, what kind of speakers will you be using? Some speakers perform just fine with amps that provide moderate current, while others really need a high-current amp to "sing".
Last, what are your future plans for your system? If you intend to continue upgrading in the relatively near future, you might be better advised to save some more money and make the jump directly to separate components (not the same as making the jump to hyperspace...).
If you can respond to these questions, I think our "gurus" can give you a better answer.