Had spectral separates for close to 20 years. After a job move and loss of my dedicated room, sold everything except the speakers. Recently got back a smallish room and went shopping. Thinking integrated for size and simplicity and great reviews of luxman. Wound up buying esoteric as luxman demo was sold. I’m not missing anything from amplification and the phono section rivals my old spectral.
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?
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- 210 posts total
- 210 posts total