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What price point favors separates over integrated?

At my point in the audio food chain, an integrated is the only choice. Buying separates for less than $2K total doesn't make any sense. But there are some really really expensive integrated amps out there. Which got me thinking... At what price point is it better to have separates rather than an integrated? I'm leaving out concerns about space here. Just for sound, if you have $5K, is it better to have a Levinson integrated (or equivalent), or two components, say $2K pre and $2K amp (+ cables/powercords if you're into that)?

For that matter, where's the cutoff for monoblocks over a pre/amp combo?

I know there's "no right answer" here, as it will depend on your particular taste in gear, but I'd like to hear your opinions, as many of you must face this choice.
qualia8
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
There is no price, or real reason why one must be better than the other IMO, separates offer advantages of mix and match which opens up a lot of doors towards getting exactly the sound you are after. Both can be built to any price or quality level the designer may have the skills to implement.

Dave
krell_man
827 posts
 
I guess it all depends on your money situation, because separates have more extra cost associated with them.

For example, I just went to mono-blocks. Now I have a pre-amp and two amps.

My power cords cost $550.00 a piece and interconnects cost $500.00 a pair. So an integrated would need one power cord, where I need three and a set of interconnects. So the pre-amp/mono-block set up cost an extra $1,600.00 in cables.

I also need three spaces in my rack for them instead of just one, as well as three outlets instead of just one.

The main reason that I like separates is because I have played music all of my life, and I have the audiophile 'addiction', and continually change trying to hear more and more.
qualia8 OP
49 posts
 
Thanks, Krell man. It's all that additional cost in cords, interconnects, and boxes that I'm wondering about. This additional cost seems to argue heavily in favor of an integrated -- even at, say $5K. You like Musical Fidelity amps. (I do too. They've got a really sweet sound.) Why not the A5 or KW500? That extra $1600 in cables could buy a lot more power in an integrated.

Of course, you couldn't fiddle with the two separately. I get that. But I'm guessing at some price point, the advantages of separates/monoblocks outweigh the disadvantages of all of those extra boxes and cables.
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