After years of separates, I'm going integrated. Anyone else do the same?


I'm rethinking my listening room. I want my audio rack to be more minimalist vs lots of boxes, wires, and clutter. I know separates, in general, will sound better. However, at the level of my system, I'm not certain the difference would be as apparent. In the grand scheme of things of Audiophilia, my level of components are mid-fi at best (BHK Pre, First Watt J2, Elac PPA-2 phono, Pro-ject s2 Dac, ZU Omen Defs)

I'm favoring one of the Luxman Class A's (I know Luxman is getting out of the Class A business. The only way I would favor a built-in Dac is if it were upgradable like McIntosh or Accuphase. I'm guessing a Luxman or Mac built-in phono would sound just as good as to what I have now (Elac PPA-2).

So the question is, who else has gone to integrated? Do you regret the move or are you glad you did?

 

aberyclark

I was at a small hifi show the other day and a number of rooms used integrated that sounded really good. Two I remember were Moonriver Audio and the latest Bladelius.

I have 2 hybrid integrated amp Bada Purer 3.3 2009 circa used 6922 tubes sound expectacular quality parts 2 toroidal transformers 1 per ch and a 3rd C cord transformer for preamp section 10wch or 30wch class A selectionable to160wch class AB. Ten yr after i buy another Bada Purer 3.8mk 2019 circa 20wch class A to 140wch class AB use bigger 2 toroidal transformer 1 ch and 3rd AEI transformer preamp section it’s sound more linear and bigger both different animals i am enjoyed i don’t need preamp power combo to listen music and the price is better and better for 3.8mk $1,507.00 it’s a bargain,the 3.3 i buy in 2009 for $1,000.00 in late Pacific Valve online i am happy with that.

nope would never do it separates are always better sounding, I have the Sim audio p8 preamp and the w8 amp never going to give them up.

I'd prefer the separates, but since good quality interconnects are so expensive it makes sense to me to go integrated as much as possible to avoid that cost. That's only if you can maintain the same quality sound at your price point. Put your money into the components rather than extra wires. I suppose if you've way too much money a few extra thousand might not make any difference. 

Mike