....wondering what specifically about speaker choice would make you lean towards either separates or integrated? for reference, i use focal kanta 3 speakers.
The Kanta 3 in a proper room certainly deserves the best. What specifically about speaker choice? Your commitment to getting the best out of what you have without compromise. I would feed those with what I used. Cary SLP98 and a Parasound A21+. Next step after that would be tube mono-blocks.