user poll on seperates vs integrated

@chrisryanhorner I like the way you asked the question about separates vs. integrated. I checked out your top-of-the-line Focal Kanta No. 3 on Crutchfield’s. As Bill Clinton would say, ‘I feel your pain.’ I just got some new speakers myself, and everything is up in the air until I get them installed and tune the room. Proceeding logically, do you think the Kanta 3’s are right for your room? If so, then the next question is what kind of amplification do they need -in your room-? I notice that the power spec is 40 to 400 Watts with a 91 dB sensitivity into 8 Ohm nominal impedance. With those specs, I wouldn’t think it would be hard to drive, which opens the door to integrated amps. So, again, I think you phrased your question well.
 

Two thoughts: (1) separates give you more ways to get the sound you want, but they’re high maintenance. Not only do you have to build the system yourself, but there are so many variables, from gain matching preamp to amp, interconnect cabling, tubes in pre? Tubes in DAC? Tubes, period? And interconnects . . . don’t get me started. Thing is, if you don’t like what you’re hearing, you can do something about it. (2) The term ‘Integrated’ has been tossed around on this thread without much definition. Decware sells an ‘integrated’ that seems pretty bare-bones to me. You really have to look closely under the hood (or pony up that $10,000 you reference. Back in the day (60’s & ‘70’s) HiFi was all about receivers which included a radio, tone controls, tape monitor circuits, and power up up to 150 Watts. Radio isn’t so big these days, but streaming is. Some people like to play vinyl. Do you want to ‘integrate’ digital I/O, or use a separate DAC? 
 

From what I can glean from your conversation thus far, I would say you would be happier with an appropriate integrated, that has the features you need, and with the flexibility to augment its offering. That is, can you use you new phono amp with it? Will it accept digital inputs, or is it all analog (my choice). Does it have tone controls? Does it stream? Does it have preamp outs? Does it have Home Theater pass-through? It seems to me that, while I’m committed to separates presently, the RIGHT integrated can offer both flexibility and ease of use. (And you may be able to control everything with one remote.)

One final thought on integrated amplifiers, as with multi-function printers, an integrated’s ability is usually tilted in favor of the manufacturer’s strengths. A company renowned for it’s power amps may not have the most detailed preamp, a headphone amp company may have a hard time scaling up to power hungry speaker amps, etc. when you get into integrated amps, I would stick with major manufacturers known for producing units with consistent sound, performance, and reliability; with separates, you can experiment as suits your fancy. 
 

Good Luck. 

I would argue that unless you need huge reservoirs of power delivered via monoblocs, then integrated is the way.  I did have separates but found no SQ compromise moving to integrated (albeit with different brands).   Having done a lot of research and listening in dealers’ demo rooms and at home I have ended up driving all my systems with integrated amps.  The best I heard are from a company who built its reputation on its integrated amps: Vitus in particular. I have the SIA-30 which is an incredible amp. The Trilogy 925 integrated is also a phenomenal integrated with its valve pre-amp section.  

Integrated amps also offer so much better value - good amps usually have expensive casing in their build costs which can contribute a significant proportion of the cost of an amp. Added on to this is the fact that there is no need for interconnects and only one power cable is necessary, it means integrated amps not not only sound as good (from my experience) but are significantly better value, and of course they take up less space and need one fewer shelf on the rack. 
 

Response 1.   Three boxes cost more to make than one.  At a total spend of $10k too much in hard dollars is being spent on boxes (and leads between them).  At a bigger total spend, boxes and leads are a smaller proportion of the whole.

Response 2.   Theoretically exactly the same amp(s) with the same power supply(ies) could be put in one box or in three.  The three box version would cost more.  But would it sound better?  The only difference would be the greater physical separation of the active circuitry and components.  How much sound quality can this add?

I would vote for separates, but having in mind that one will ususally spend more and it will take more time to get everything ’right’ You will need more cables, including power cables as well and more time to make ’right’ choices, between components and cables.

Even the higher class integrated amps are often not a match for a separates that might cost the same, or worse, there are very few integrated amps at all, that can match the 10k separates bought in Sh, for example. That amount of money, in sh, can get you far, meaning it will give you more than almost any integrated amp, without the cost of cables.

You can't be prescriptive as in my experience what it all boils down to is having a listen to the options you have narrowed it down to, which may include include integrated and separates and choose the one that floats your boat.