I found tube gear adds more life to the music.
As far as integrated goes, it works but can be better.
Seperate power source usually works better. You get better dynamic and less heat issue with preamp+amp combo.
From Tube FAQ,
" Tube is a totally mechanical device, inside a tube is just some metal plate arrangements, the effective operation area is much much larger than a semiconductor (sometimes even 1,000,000 times larger). When music signal pass through a very small area, it will implies certain squeeze feeling to the signal itself and it is very noticeable , so when a signal just pass through one transistor, you will immediate sense the compressed , flattened and hardened feeling from the music. The more the transistors in the circuit, the lesser the easiness more and more flatness and hardness to the music. "
As far as integrated goes, it works but can be better.
Seperate power source usually works better. You get better dynamic and less heat issue with preamp+amp combo.
From Tube FAQ,
" Tube is a totally mechanical device, inside a tube is just some metal plate arrangements, the effective operation area is much much larger than a semiconductor (sometimes even 1,000,000 times larger). When music signal pass through a very small area, it will implies certain squeeze feeling to the signal itself and it is very noticeable , so when a signal just pass through one transistor, you will immediate sense the compressed , flattened and hardened feeling from the music. The more the transistors in the circuit, the lesser the easiness more and more flatness and hardness to the music. "