Are integrated amps technically better than separates?

Each amplification stage, capacitor and cable add distortions and noise.

All those gain stages are in an integrated amp too. Usually though you have a greater chance of lower noise with separates since crosstalk and intermodulations from the other channel won't exist.


To see how profound this is, this morning I was working on an integrated amp, and noticed a very distorted signal at the input of the power amp- on the first stage and throughout that channel. Chased it back to the input, which is all passive components on that amp, and realized that since I was only driving one channel, the unused channel had that distorted input (and output) going on as a result. There is nothing malfunctioning about this amp; but apparently this sort of signal (the result of crosstalk) is adding distortion to the amplifier, which it would not have were the channels merely separated. The amplifier was an older solid state amp made by Trio (Kenwood/Pioneer).

NO NEVER!!

For amps probably up to around 100/150 watts/channel RMS, integrated ones are just as good as separate units as far as sound quality is concerned and definitely better in terms of physical space occupation.

For devices above those ratings, and especially for class A devices, power supplies become the dominant factor and therefore separate units are usually a bit better.

But for most part for the average listener, typically integrated units are easier to set up and they need less space & wiring.

99.9% of people will not notice the difference.  The other 0.1 % will pretend they hear the difference :-)

I really love my Music Fidelity Dual Mono Integrated. I always wanted this type of British sound and level. Separates I have owned never came close to this smooth incredible power and sound. I could only afford it second hand but got it on Audiogon so was super nice. It was fun in the old days to put together Hafler and PS audio separates but that is how it all started. It is incredible how good sounding the amps are now. Love this forum! 

I remember owning a Luxman integrated back in the day. Sounded way ahead of the competition, and beautiful to look at!