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After years of separates, I'm going integrated. Anyone else do the same?

I'm rethinking my listening room. I want my audio rack to be more minimalist vs lots of boxes, wires, and clutter. I know separates, in general, will sound better. However, at the level of my system, I'm not certain the difference would be as apparent. In the grand scheme of things of Audiophilia, my level of components are mid-fi at best (BHK Pre, First Watt J2, Elac PPA-2 phono, Pro-ject s2 Dac, ZU Omen Defs)

I'm favoring one of the Luxman Class A's (I know Luxman is getting out of the Class A business. The only way I would favor a built-in Dac is if it were upgradable like McIntosh or Accuphase. I'm guessing a Luxman or Mac built-in phono would sound just as good as to what I have now (Elac PPA-2).

So the question is, who else has gone to integrated? Do you regret the move or are you glad you did?

 

aberyclark
jerryg123's avatar
jerryg123
3,429 posts
 

A lot of you are talking all in ones. Had a couple from NAD and Simaudio…not a fan.

b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 

I loved my Belles Aria Integrated and replaced that with a Kinki EX-M1.  The Kinki is pretty awesome with some different op amps.  Im going to be changing ghe 5 fuses next.  Its really a beautiful amp outside and in!

ryder
1,687 posts
 

It’s good to notice the positive experiences of folks who have gone the integrated route. After messing around with various integrateds and pre/power for many years, I think I have found my endgame integrated, a Luxman L-590AXII. It may not be the costliest or the best in the market but it just delivers. With select speakers, the Luxman integrated outperforms another costlier separates which are now relegated to the second system.


System synergy particularly the match between the amp and speakers is more important than the quality of the amp in my book. Nevertheless, the quality or attributes of the amp are still essential in ensuring a high quality sound reproduction. Integrated amps have evolved considerably throughout the years as we now have a rather vast choice of high quality and costly integrateds to choose from. Separates may still have an edge in terms of performance but I think the gap between integrated and separates has reduced.

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drrsutliff
837 posts
 

Parted with three units - Ayre QX5/20 DAC, Ayre VX5/20 amp, and VAC Renaissance V preamp for a Gryphon Diablo 300 with DAC module.  Cleaned up the rack and sold a lot of interconnects and power cables.  Still use a DSA Phono2  for my two tonearms but otherwise loving the simpler look and equal to superior performance. 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,913 posts
 

If you are not married to the meters ,then Coda Audio design makes excellent products made in U.S.A Nelson Pass engineering team 

at $7k retail. Maybe a little less See Mike at Audio Archon , 3 power choices 

lower power higher 1st watts in pure class A .  No where else will you have 120 amps short term ,and dead quiet potted transformer ,not open core toroidal transformer and 3,000 Va , most are 6-800, 80+k capacitance ,

electronic BB class A preamplifier , and feel it’s a steal and One of the best against anything at $10 k  and 10 year warranty, 5 years transferrable warranty !!

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