What sounds best integrated or separates?

I've kind of coveted Blue Circle amps to some extent. Didn't realize they were hybrid.

Read one review that indicated a Blue Circle amp took the reviewer's large Ohms to a whole new level, and he was using some pretty good amplification prior.

Pricey stuff but I need to check into it some more for sure.

I've also considered a Musical Fidelity like the Tri Vista or equivalent in that I have been very happy with my MF amp.

I am very strongly considering going integrated on my next amplification upgrade.

Didn't realize Pass made integrateds. Will look into that also.

Rowland or Bel Canto Class D gear is an attractive option as well. Does BEl Canto make integrateds? Are they in the same league as the other big boy integrateds?

I like the idea of a GOOD integrated amp that takes a good amp and pre subsystem and integrates them with care into the single box with attention to not having one section compromise the other. Same true even if phono section tossed in as well.

Why?

Because the integration has been performed for you by highly trained professionals who know what they are doing and do things that way for a reason. That can save you a lot of heartaches trying to find a good match.

I also like the idea of a good stereo power amp that treates the left and right channel in a similar manner within a single package.

Or if someone you trust has achieved a good integration between a particular amp and pre, then that is a good start as well.

If you go the separates route, be prepared to have to experiment and change things along the way to a good match unless you really know what you are doing. To an audiphil, the journey in this case may have as much appeal as the result. But if you're goal is to get to the best sound possible as fast as possible, take care.

Pubul57,

The choice of integrated amps that might possibly play in the same league with your system are surely few and far between, especially if we're talking tube amplification.

But how long did it take you to arrive where you are and how much was invested to get where you are now?

Also, the VAC Phi Beta is a stunning piece.

Anyone with any concept of how well it might drive my Ohm 5's which present a somewhat difficult load and love to suck power and current?

I haven't convinced my self that there is a tube amp out there that could do the job even as well as what I already have, but I'm very interested in being shown that I'm wrong.

"Mapman, I think your speakers simply need SS."

That is my conclusion at this point as well.

How about a hybrid amp design like Moscode but in an integrated? Anything out there like that?

Soniqmike,

A lot of truth in what you say.

I am an amateur photographer and my 12 year old son can take pictures on his new $300 Panasonic Digital camera (an amazingly functional gadget I must say) in auto mode that are as good as or better than many I've taken in the past on a very good Nikon FE film camera with high quality specialized lenses, filters, etc. I now borrow his Panasonic whenever I can.

"I cannot think of any 500 watt integrateds."

Class D Icepower modules go to 5002/ch into 8 ohm and 1000w/ch into 4.

Rowland makes a 500w/ch integrated using this for under $10000 I believe.

Any other manufacturers provide a 500w/ch class D integrated? If not, I'd bet there will be more coming quite soon.