user poll on seperates vs integrated

russ69: thanks for the reply, wondering what specifically about speaker choice would make you lean towards either separates or integrated?  for reference, i use focal kanta 3 speakers.

Flexibility is the key value of separates.

Judging by $$$ alone is a poor way of going about it since $$$ is itself a really poor indicator of quality or performance.

Consider a favorite recipe for many is a colorful tube pre with a solid state amp.  Pick the tube pre based on sound qualities you want to have and a solid state amp for the ability to drive difficult loads.

Having said that, I prefer to go with solid state integrateds and easy to drive speakers.

vonhelmholtz: i post here when i have a question about something, not sure why not posting all the time is an issue for you.

i asked the question because i'm curious to know if there's a prevailing opinion on whether, when cost is equalized, people think you get better results for the money out of less expensive separates or more expensive integrated because it might influence what direction i go in the future.  i'm not on the verge or a purchase, but down the line, as i look at future upgrades, this is the sort of fork in the road that determines the future of a system.  it's also just interesting to me.

vonhelmholtz comment is priceless

Left me stunned and frozen for minutes

I was told that under 10K: integrated is the way to go, overt that: monoblocks and preamp