Integrated vs. Separates on a Budget

Parasound Hint could be a very nice keeper but it's class A/B which means it gets pretty warm when playing music, a plus in winter. HOWEVER...

The Technics SU G700 is 21st century tech and extremely well engineered: plus GaN technology is 21st century, and wow there's one FS at USAudiomart for $1595

you need to scroll down as Agons latest software "upgrade" puts links into huge invisible boxes

BTW - You guys are AWESOME!

👍

I prefer known highly rated and reviewed products… used VAC, Rogue, PrimaLuna. Unfortunately used Audio Research just does not come down to $3K.

Personally, I would view the "not all watts are equal" mantra with caution. 

I'd bet against a 20wpc tube integrated working as well as 100 watts solid state (or tube, for that matter) for your 91db speakers, all else equal.  In fact, I wouldn't go near 20 watts for your speakers, no matter how "unequal" they were claimed to be (complications noted by ghdprentice noted).

That said, there are tube amps with more juice in your budget.  Rogue has already been mentioned, and gets great press. I just bought a 60 wpc Jolida/Black Ice used here that sounds lovely, and something like that could be had for way under your budget (see Walter at Underwood for these).

But my sense is many of the tube amps will not have all the functionality you want.  If you are willing to consider a "just an amp" (an approach I'm attracted to), I'd throw Pass SS stuff in the mix with the toobers.

IMHO integrated amps are the way to go regardless of budget unless for some reason you need dual mono blocks for power or some other reason. 

Otherwise, the simplicity in terms of cabling and the distortion introduced by the interconnect between the preamp and amp is not worth it, not to mention the space and cost saving of having fewer boxes.

It seems most all high end amp makers offer integrated amps of exceptional quality.

Phono stage is another issue. For some reason, the amp manufacturers are not emphasizing that if offering it at all, especially for a MC option. Definitely get a separate phono stage if you can afford it and care about vinyl.