Logic appears to be triumphing over reality here.
All that matters is whether or not you like what you're hearing. The number of boxes in play is not relevant. My experience with Pass, Goldmund, Krell, Levinson, Atmasphere,BEL,Rowland, Spectral and CAT separates mixed and matched over several years was entirely eclipsed by the introduction of a Rowland Concentra II integrated.
That said, I'm headed back to separates as we speak because of having purchased the 201 monos from Rowland. I guess the biggest issue in this whole argument is the length of my speaker cables. With the integrated I needed 15 feet each way......now I use just a foot on each.
I think non analogue audiophiles should be using a digital transport directly into powered speakers. Doesn't that sound like an elegant arrangement. One cable from transport to speaker and another from speaker to speaker. With the new digital amp craze this could become commonplace. Meanwhile check out the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5. That's what I'd like to have. Then you've maxed out the integrated concept.
All that matters is whether or not you like what you're hearing. The number of boxes in play is not relevant. My experience with Pass, Goldmund, Krell, Levinson, Atmasphere,BEL,Rowland, Spectral and CAT separates mixed and matched over several years was entirely eclipsed by the introduction of a Rowland Concentra II integrated.
That said, I'm headed back to separates as we speak because of having purchased the 201 monos from Rowland. I guess the biggest issue in this whole argument is the length of my speaker cables. With the integrated I needed 15 feet each way......now I use just a foot on each.
I think non analogue audiophiles should be using a digital transport directly into powered speakers. Doesn't that sound like an elegant arrangement. One cable from transport to speaker and another from speaker to speaker. With the new digital amp craze this could become commonplace. Meanwhile check out the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5. That's what I'd like to have. Then you've maxed out the integrated concept.