integrateds in the modern age: consensus?

Plinius 9100 & 9200 are definitely on my short list. I have to drive about 6 hours to hear one though, unless I care to order without an audition.

Have not an integrated yet with a TVC.

Pots and electonic/digital volume attenuators leave something to be desired IMHO.

YMMV of course.

If I were into SS sound I would have an integrated amp provided it had high power and current delivery capacity so it could drive different speakers easily. That way I wouldn't have to buy a new unit if I changed speakers. But I'm not.....

I like tubes and I like the flexibility of being able to make tonal adjustments by just changing tubes to accomodate different placements, rooms, speakers or new source equipment. Having a pre-amp gives me one more location to make changes (although I rarely mess with the pre-amp). Tinkering can be fun on a rainy day! :-)

here's a shocker.....last time i checked, many worthy tube pre amps as well as ss integrateds had tone controls..... everyone from saul marantz to frank mcintosh saw as a way to adjust your stereo system's balance to the room it is in. this beats changing tubes everytime you scoot your speakers around or move to a different room or change listening chairs

I am a current owner of the Edge G3, this after years of seperates and other integrateds. I am completely happy with the G3, match it with a great source (for me the Naim CDX2) and speakers and it works. It works better for me then most seperates. I must admit WAF and space drove me to take a close look at integrateds.

I am reviewer for Positive-feedback.com and have had the chance to listen to several integrateds. My review of the Plinius 9100 and the G3 will be posted soon.

If I had a dedicated listening room and mucho $$$ of course I could do better. All in all I am not feeling the least bit deprived.