Wadia CD players direct to power amps opinions

What do any of you guys think about an intergrated tube amp instead of a pre amp? I know that it is similar but not sure what the effects would be- I have never owned an intergarted amp before.

System update: Just hooked up a pr of AudioValve Challanger Mono Block tube amps via my Wadia iSE cd player and it ROCKS and WOW does it ever, now it is on to some seriously new cables. Thanks for those who posted comments if anyone has anymore insight to offer please do so.

I am amazed at the sound quality I do not think my system ever sounded so good.

I'm officially changing my vote. The Shunyatas I just bought make the MX-Rs sing in a way I didn't know was possible and as a result going direct is now clearly superior to having a preamp in the path. So I guess at the end of the day it depends on your components as to what will sound better, but imo direct is the way to go.

You know, Bar81, I had the same experience!!
I think I wrote this in another similar thread in 2007 (I can't find that thread 'cuz I forgot the title of it! ;-( )
Anyway, I had TARA Labs Master Gen II interconnects & running my 861SE directly to the amp was far, far below in performance vs. running my 861SE into a preamp.
Then I got hold of some Virtual Dynamics interconnects & I had to, just like you, change my opinion!!
The Virtual Dynamics Nite 3 & Nite Platinum interconnects drive the power amp directly from the 861SE like I've never heard before. The music is dynamic & very enjoyable.

I still prefer my tube preamp in between the 861SE & the power amp as it gives me that tube "magic". I have not compared the without pre & with pre recently so I cannot say which one wins definitely but my present line-up with the tube pre is very, very enjoyable. I do not feel that I'm missing anything.
FWIW. YMMV. IMHO.

I did a search on whether to connect a CDP directly to an amp. The opinion is quite a split. Could somebody who knows better explain why such contrast in opinion. Provided that everything else is the same including the cables, it seems that having a direct route, thus eliminating the preamp and a pair of interconnects, would be preferred. Yet apparently this is not universal. I obviously assume that people didn't change components around. The only thing I could possibly think of is that, for some cases, the preamp has superior gain stage than what's inside a CDP with variable output. But is this even true? What else could it be? The CDP of interest would be Wadia for the originator this thread and Meridian 808 for myself.