Nobody's mentioned vinyl as a reason for going separate. I wanted a first-class phono stage and I was able to get one in the preamp I chose ( originally a Copland CTA-301, now a Klyne SK-5A ).
The alternative was an integrated with an outboard phono stage. I considered a Vecteur amp with an Audiomat, but the value-for-money calculation came down on the other side.
The alternative was an integrated with an outboard phono stage. I considered a Vecteur amp with an Audiomat, but the value-for-money calculation came down on the other side.