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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
shredder's avatar
shredder
113 posts
 

I also own an Ayre AX-5/20. It replaced more expensive separates (Modwright KWA 150 SE and Cary Slp-05 pre) and sounds vastly better imho and takes up a lot less space.

Good high end companies seem to be investing a lot of R&D into integrateds these days.There are a lot of good ones in the price range we are discussing.

webking185's avatar
webking185
192 posts
 

I love separates and integrated amps.  Anyone in the hobby long enough knows we must have multiples systems to use and try out.  Especially when you come across vintage gear at low prices.  I enjoy music and love to switch it up from time to.  But nothing wrong with integrated, I'm currently enjoying my Luxman 590, and next month I throw back into the loop my MX-1.  What makes this hobby so much fun is the synergy of equipment.  I heard several albums repeatedly with different speaker/amp, and they each bring a new flavor :)

gtaphile
74 posts
 

Main 2 channel system is all separates - ARC REF preamps and Simaudio amplification and I may look again in a few years. I have gone AVM integrated (class D amp and pre with tube compliment) for my family room system and couldn't be happier. I dont see it listed in any response. Should definitely be on the list.  

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,618 posts
 

Nothing wrong with integrateds, at all.

sokogear
1,058 posts
 

A long time ago (15 years) I replaced an amp and a preamp with an integrated. I had a Belles Preamp and B&K amp, not "high end" but reliable and powerful. I wanted a remote for the preamp, and my main dealer said if I was going to replace the preamp, he had a deal on a Plinius integrated that was far superior to what I had for only a couple hundred bucks more than a new preamp. It also has a good phono stage that can accommodate MC carts (but I ended up getting a separate Sutherland Insight phono stage which improved the sound very noticeably). 

Less cables with the integrated (although my phono stage eliminated that benefit) and all things being equal, they are less expensive because there is only one box to manufacture, one power cable to buy and no interconnect needed from preamp to amp. Unless I had some reason for wanting a different amp and preamp, I would only get an integrated. Some guys like more boxes and complexity - I prefer the opposite.

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