Integrated tube amp vs Tube amp?

I am using McIntosh 302 amp now. I wanted to experience “tube” sound and was thinking of trying “horn” sound also by getting a pair of Klipsch Cornwall 4 s. Currently have Goldenear Triton 1s and Ohm 5 Mk2s.

I suppose you can choose speakers based upon the amp, or the amp based upon the speakers.

At this point thinking about whether you want an integrated amp or stereo amp, or monoblocks seems a bit premature… IMO.

What is wrong with the golden ear or the Ohm speakers? Or what can be improved on?

There are 2 schools of thought on preamps:  Preamp should "add to sound quality" and "preamp should be invisible".  

Integrated tube amps usually are looking for the 2nd path to success.  So if you're in that school of thought, integrated tube amps may be the way for you to go.

If you're in the first school, then separates may be the way to go.

Jerry

There are 2 schools of thought on preamps:  Preamp should "add to sound quality" and "preamp should be invisible".  

Integrated tube amps usually are looking for the 2nd path to success.  So if you're in that school of thought, integrated tube amps may be the way for you to go.

If you're in the first school, then separates may be the way to go.

That second school of thought is likely where we get “synergy” from.
(Bright horns, and warm amps, etc.) 

Personally I want everything to be transparent and not spicing things up, and then using spoonfuls of yogurt and cucumber slices to cool it all down.

So we are back to wondering what speakers the OP wants to head towards in order to spice things towards making the “Synergy of the flaws” balance out.

(IMO)

There are 2 schools of thought on preamps:  Preamp should "add to sound quality" and "preamp should be invisible".  

Integrated tube amps usually are looking for the 2nd path to success.  So if you're in that school of thought, integrated tube amps may be the way for you to go.

If an integrated amp uses a 12au7 for the preamp stage, which is pretty common, it's definitely NOT going to sound invisible. 

An additional advantage of going with separates is you can have the power amps be monoblocks. This can allow you to place them closer to the loudspeakers, allowing for shorter speaker cables. With tube amplifiers in particular, this can really help improve bass impact and the ability to pick out vocals. When you have monoblocks the amplifiers won't share power supplies either- this can result in lower intermodulation distortion, which causes the system to sound smoother and more detailed.