It will also depend on how much you are interested in tweaking your sound. Separates allow you to dial the sound in to get what works best for you. You have more control over each part of the system.
Separates w/internal phono vs Integrated + phono
Given the same amount of money say $8-10k what is the better way to go? Separates with an internal phono or an integrated with a stand alone phono? Anyone done reasonable comparisons, is it just trade offs or is there a clear winner? A really good phono can make a huge difference but can it fully shine through an integrated?