Why don't higher end amplifiers come with a separate power chassis?

They do not just copy pro equipment.

Is pro equipment up to critical listening standards?

and know this if you listen to mostly music pro is the way to go. Kudos

If this is your listening experience outcome, good for you and stick with it. I find well designed and implemented audio products for domestic environments provide a higher level of sound quality. So to each their own.

Charles

As expected, we’ve seen technically competent remarks from the younger, faster, and better looking members of this group. From an old guy’s perspective, I will add that the additional economic impact of building 2 chassis is significant. Here’s an (incomplete?) list of what happens when you split and amp in half:

- 2 chassis

- 2 faceplates

- 2 on/off switches (maybe)

- 2 shipping cartons

- 2 sets of packing materials

- 2 items to ship, handle. insure against damage

- 2 sets of service literature

- 2 sets of marketing materials (if items sold separately)

- 2 invoices

- 2 items to warehouse, inventory.

- and, last, but not least, 2 items to find room for in a rack, floor, shelf, or doily hanging from the ceiling

From a technical perspective (which I am underqualified to contribute), when high power between components is exposed to the environment, more precautions are needed in the cabling/connections. Thus, more insulation. Some have found that insulators/dialetrics are a factor in sound quality. The cost of the connections/terminators will be higher than if handled internally. But, then there exists the possiblity that the added real estate can allow for larger, more robust components. "If we just had a little more spece, we could have ...."

The two most expensive parts of a solid state power amp?

The chassis, and the power supply.

It’s a cost thing. 
 

Now, as I’m about to build a single ended EL34 power amp, I plan to put the power supply in a separate chassis. Mainly for noise isolation. But, separating the two does come with its own challenges, as had been stated above.

@muvluv What does pro gear have to do with anything as far as this topic goes? You make it seem like studio equipment gave birth to high end audio gear? How about, no…