I started a thread to the effect of advocating integrated amps and was politely slapped down. I ran a CJ Premier 17 , into a Pass labs Aleph 3 with Living Voice Avatars for 2 years and was very happy. Looking for a tube amp to match the CJ, I was advised by 2 dealers, that a tube integrated was very little more than a power amp. So I changed to a Viva Solista 18watt, SET based on 845 valves and could'nt be happier, apart from the heat. Downsizing is a relative term. It weighs 60 odd lbs and takes a lot of space, plus it runs HOT, which is causing dark mutterings from the wife.
I believe there is a real move back to integrated amps from High End Manufacturers, probably not the best they can make, which will be a pre and monoblocks, but well up the range. Look at Audio Research, Mark Levinson, Music Fidelity, Jadis and many others. Sure you loose flexibilty, but it means shorter signal paths and saving money. In my case that let me move up a clear notch in performance without spending more. It made sense to me and for tube fans there are some very good tube integrated amps out there for a similar price to a power amp.
I believe there is a real move back to integrated amps from High End Manufacturers, probably not the best they can make, which will be a pre and monoblocks, but well up the range. Look at Audio Research, Mark Levinson, Music Fidelity, Jadis and many others. Sure you loose flexibilty, but it means shorter signal paths and saving money. In my case that let me move up a clear notch in performance without spending more. It made sense to me and for tube fans there are some very good tube integrated amps out there for a similar price to a power amp.