Advantages of monoblocks

Simao, you've already own one formidable amp which to really better it at least needing
a two to three times jump from your current allocated budget.

I would think using the fund (going separate needing 2xICs) to upgrade your current
IC/SC or investing in good PCs instead (if you haven't done so), these would usually yield
a worthwhile improvements, ime. ~ ie.maximizing on what you have first.

A point that has been alluded to above, but IMO warrants further emphasis, is that separating a design onto two chassis increases cost. And even more so if the design is separated onto two amplifier chassis plus a preamplifier. Therefore at a given price point the benefits that a monoblock approach can potentially provide trade off against the potential for a reduction in quality. How that tradeoff will net out can of course be expected to vary widely among different designs.

Personally, although I have no particular familiarity with any of the specific components that are involved, my instinct is to agree with Chayro and Bvdiman (although I express no opinion about the latter's cable upgrade suggestion). Replacing an $11.5K integrated amplifier with $4K worth of used monoblocks and a used preamp doesn't seem to me to be likely to result in an upgrade, unless something is particularly disappointing about the integrated in question, and/or its compatibility with the speakers.

Regards,
-- Al

Al, maybe my previous message came across as sounding not quite right.. :)
What I'm trying to convey was that the money saved from not needing to buy another
pair of IC (if Simao is to go separate) would be better spent to upgrade existing
cabling/maximizing current system instead.

If you don't blast music, I might suggest you look for a lower-powered tube amp. I've heard the DaCapos with Shindo and it was a beautiful combination. However, I don't think you're getting anything like that with your budget. Maybe a Unison Simply Italy or a Mastersound Due Venti would work. The DaCapos are pretty efficient and will work well with 15-20 watts. But if you like to play electronic music at loud volumes, you're better off with what you have. IMO.

These are the responses I was looking for. With my budget, there's no way I'm going to improve on the LSA in terms of monoblocks AND the requisite pre. If anything, I'll take Bvdiman's advice about improving what I have.

I'm running Clear Day cables throughout and a SignalCable PC from the LSA (stock cord with the Rotel 1072 cd). If anything, I could improve the PC's.

You fellow audiogoners rock!