I have always preferred separates. My dream since a kid and fortunate enough to have a Jeff Rowland Criterion preamp and Sanders MagTech amps. To me, I have one of the ebst pre amps and amps available and I do not believe one manufacture who makes an incredible preamp also makes amps for me and my speakers (I have Sandres 10e stats). You give up convenience and you need an extra set of cables (I run Tara Labs The One so if cost a few grand a pair) but what you gain is better channel separation, isolation and, to me, the ability to get the best compatability you possibly can. At a $10k budget, if you can get one of those uber new intergraded for 10k, that would be the way to go and move up to separates.