Are integrated amps technically better than separates?

t I got something that was better for me at $3K. I guess it must not be as good since it is cheaper. This preamp is going to be paired with the Luxman m900u amp or something a little bit higher in cost (must be better then).

I've never supported the idea that cost alone ensured quality or desirability, in fact I've posted many a times that this was short sighted, so you are barking up the wrong poster's tree here.

However, I also think that if we are going to compare maybe something reasonably equivalent would be a better way to go.  An example for this might be the CJ CAV 50 vs. the PV 10 and a similar powered small tube amp.

Maybe not the OP's intent, but I'd phrase the question like this: If you have $10K to spend, will you find better performance with integradeds or separates? 

Here, if we are going reasonably close to cost, perhaps comparing the top Luxman pre and amp to the D'Agostino amp is a closer match?

https://www.whathifi.com/dan-dagostino/momentum-integrated-amplifier/review

While I haven't heard the integrated, I've heard the amps and they are really good, so I think this would be closer.

And this gets me back to the kind of original point, while I believe it is possible to design an integrated and pre that are as good or better than their separates, with no boundaries the comparisons become kind of meaningless.

"Oh, I once heard a pre/amp that sounded a lot better than X integrated" doesn't prove anything really. Of course, neither does cost.

Best,

E

@aberyclark  I forgot to add that I also compared the Mark Levinson 585 integrated, which is the best integrated I have heard. I don't bother with stuff too expensive since I don't find uber priced gear that interesting, except speakers.

I compared, on the same system (Magico A3 speakers), the Mark Levinson separates and the ML 585. The separates also had the top end ML DAC and streamer. Each separate piece was $20K each and the 585 was $12K ($6K used). I found the 585 much closer to the top end ML separates than the similar comparison of the Luxman 509x vs the Luxman separates.

That 585 is a really good integrated and the DAC in it was rather good. Not as good as the ML separate DAC for 20K but I am never paying 20K for a DAC. I think it was 20K may have been 10K.

I was auditioning the A3 speakers and that was the system they had set up. If I have bought the A3 I would have bought the 585.

I have not heard the brand new Mola Mola integrated which has the same DAC module as the Tambaqui DAC. I have my suspicions that this unit can give the Mola Mola separates a run for it's money.

When your talking integrated of the level of Gryphon Diablo 300, Pass Int-250, Luxman 509X, Accuphase E-800, Vitus SIA-030, Audionet Humboldt, CH Precision I1 and Dartzeel CTH-8550 you might ask yourself if it's still worth going separates?

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