Integrated Amps vs. Separates.

I own a KAV300i, albeit used, and my impression was that it is a piece of crap. Maybe it's just a bad match for my speakers (Spendor S3/5), I don't know. I much prefer my Jolida tube integrated or my Musical Fidelity A3CR. On the subject of integrated vs. separates, I'm not sure I understand the general rule that separates are better than integrateds. Wouldn't you want shorter cable runs of the lower level signal(s), I.E. between pre-amp and amp? Isn't an integrated the shortest possible cable run? Also, I'm not sure this is how all integrateds are built, but wouldn't it be better to lower the amplification than to lower the signal that's fully amplified, thus reducing noise? The analogy I use is to driving: you don't change speed by shifting, you lower the gas.

I think there is a mis-conception of integrated amps. As I stated, there are no "all out, no money limit" integrated amps, at least that I know of, but there are for separates. In that light, separates are superior for all out performance. Therefore it is conceived that they are just plain better. Seprates have the ability to upgrade the two sections obviously. But at price points that include integrated amps, I have to believe they become very competitve. Heck, I too have fallen into that trap.

Hi Mailman. I recently heard a Gryphin (not sure of spelling) 100w integrated. After listning to Goldmund's top of there line pre amp and amp we put in the Gryphin. We did this twice. It was a short listning session. Not somthing I lived with. I have never owned or considered an integrated. Shame on me. The Gryphon sounded wonderful. I would like to listen to it in my system. But what if it sounds better than my big bad SE tube mono amps and my custom made pre amp? And what would my audio buddies think. Really, I was impressed. Everything in one sexy looking box and only 1 PC. Good thread Mailman.

Just a little comment regarding state-of-the-art, price-no-object integrated amps. They do exist, but are admittedly quite few in number. The Jeff Rowland Group Concentra comes to mind as offering some serious goods for their $5k+ price. Then there's that infamous Audio Note Ongaku, which is completely wired with high grade silver wire, even in the tubes and transformers, apparently. A new one costs a cool $60,000 if you can track one down.

Has anyone out there heard the Bel Canto or Legend "Starlet" integrateds?