I'll be honest, I have on preorder a Rotel 1590 MK2 as my preamp, but didn't really consider their integrated amps because of the price. I felt like you could better piecemail a system to your liking at or around the 1592's price point, or there were more compelling integrated amps around that same price, especially looking at used equipment (used Michi X3 would be awesome).
This might be blasphemy, but if 3k is your hard budget and you want am all in one solution maybe check out the new Cambridge Audio EV 75 ($2,250) and buy a subwoofer, or get the 150 (3k) and call it a day.
I started with a all in one set up based around my KEF LS50 meta's that was very basic (intergrated amp and speakers only) and now I've total fallen into this mess of a hobby. Streamer, D2D with LPS, DAC, preamp, monoblock amp, dual sub's, and now JBL L100 classics.
I wish you luck, but just ask yourself if you want good sound and convenience, or something specifically your own that you come up with (soundwise too)?
Neither is wrong, but part of me wishes I started with a high end all in one set up, which I really could've enjoyed, as opposed to a low end starter system that always had me looking for ways to change components and mix and match.
This might be blasphemy, but if 3k is your hard budget and you want am all in one solution maybe check out the new Cambridge Audio EV 75 ($2,250) and buy a subwoofer, or get the 150 (3k) and call it a day.
I started with a all in one set up based around my KEF LS50 meta's that was very basic (intergrated amp and speakers only) and now I've total fallen into this mess of a hobby. Streamer, D2D with LPS, DAC, preamp, monoblock amp, dual sub's, and now JBL L100 classics.
I wish you luck, but just ask yourself if you want good sound and convenience, or something specifically your own that you come up with (soundwise too)?
Neither is wrong, but part of me wishes I started with a high end all in one set up, which I really could've enjoyed, as opposed to a low end starter system that always had me looking for ways to change components and mix and match.