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

@ryder the 590axii is tops on my list. I’ll have to find a good used or demo since they have been discontinued. 

My main system last had an integrated in 1982, an Onkyo Integra.  My second system last had an integrated in 2002, an Eico ST70.  Never go backwards.

I tried doing that a few years ago. Went with highly regarded integrateds at the time and they sounded very good until I needed more power for bigger speakers, then I went back to separates.

What I found out with integrated amps (and this comes from the manufacturers that I have talked too at shows) and that is integrated amps are compromised compare to their separate offerings. If that is all you are looking for, then go for it. For example, the Hegel integrateds have a built in dac, but when you compare the integrated dac to their standalone dac, there is no comparison.

You have a nice sounding preamp, why not just upgrade your dac and phono pieces to match the quality of your preamp

I was at a small hifi show the other day and a number of rooms used integrated that sounded really good. Two I remember were Moonriver Audio and the latest Bladelius.

I have 2 hybrid integrated amp Bada Purer 3.3 2009 circa used 6922 tubes sound expectacular quality parts 2 toroidal transformers 1 per ch and a 3rd C cord transformer for preamp section 10wch or 30wch class A selectionable to160wch class AB. Ten yr after i buy another Bada Purer 3.8mk 2019 circa 20wch class A to 140wch class AB use bigger 2 toroidal transformer 1 ch and 3rd AEI transformer preamp section it’s sound more linear and bigger both different animals i am enjoyed i don’t need preamp power combo to listen music and the price is better and better for 3.8mk $1,507.00 it’s a bargain,the 3.3 i buy in 2009 for $1,000.00 in late Pacific Valve online i am happy with that.