Separates or Integrated? What makes more sense?


If you had $10,000 to spend on amplification, would you put all that money and get a really great and pricey integrated amp like a Pass or Luxman. Or, would you use that 10k to buy a really great preamp and amp combo. Apart from the convenience and space consideration, hypothetically how would you choose to spend that 10k if sound was your main criterion.

J
tyan42

Showing 2 responses by willgolf

I can speak to the Raven Reflection MK2 integrated amp as I owned one for 3 years.  Is it better than Luxman or Pass or Separates?  One can only debate and 10 people would have 10 different answers.  It also depends on the speakers, cabling, DAC etc.

The Reflection sound combined with my Sonus Faber Amati  Homage Tradition speakers was just outstanding.  Clear, concise, very open, excellent bass, quiet to start.  I had KT 150 power tubes so I amped up the WPC.  I like to listen at low levels and be able to hear the twang of a guitar or cymbal.  I also like to occasionally play at 50% max power.  My house shook.  

Dave Thomson is the owner and he has some of the best tubes in the world.  He has been collecting tubes for years.  As a result, it is easy to tube swap.  His customer service is outstanding.  

Lastly, it really is a show piece.  If I was going to go with an integrated, I would definitely buy a Raven again.  


hiphiphan - I sold my house and the buyers demanded my whole two channel system as a condition of the sale.  It is an extremely long story as to why I did not buy Raven again,  Let's just say I was stupid and got talked into buying Mola Mola Kaluga and Makua Class D amps sight unheard.  Given I had to start over with a whole new two channel system I purchased the amps before the speakers - another mistake.  I am building a new house and never used the Mola Mola Amps.  Once I decided on Viking Acoustic Grande Voix Horn speakers, I needed to sell the Mola Mola Amps.  I tried and tried on US Audio Mart and Audiogon and could not sell.  I ended up trading them into a dealer for Canary Audio Grand Reference Two Mono Amps and the C1800 Pre-Amp.  They are being built as I speak.  Trust me, I wish I never purchased the Mola Mola because I would have purchased the Raven Spirit 300B mono amps.