Integrated used as Preamp?


Can anyone comment on using an integrated amp solely for its preamp as opposed to buying a pure preamp? Reason I ask is because I have been eyeing a few Musical Fidelity preamps (such as the A3cr and A3.2) for a while but the integrated versions go for cheaper than the pure preamps. Why spend $150 more to NOT get the amp inside? I don't need the amp but why spend the extra money? Is there anything APPRECIABLE one should expect to lose from using the integrated instead of a pure preamp?
jnehma1
Rar1 - what do you mean about not all A3s having a preamp out? Are you saying there are multiple versions of the A3? According to the MF website, the A3, A300, A3.2, and A308 integrateds all have preouts.
The MF A3 that I had did not have a preamp out. See this thread from 2004. Don't mean to disagree with MF's web site, but it is why I wound up trading the A3 integrated for the A300 power amp, after I purchased the CD PRE 24.

With that said, a CD PRE 24 would give you what you are looking for. Stereophile did an exhaustive review that you may want to read.

Regards,

Rich
Thanks for the info Rar1. That's interesting that your A3 didn't have preouts. On the CD Pre 24, I've had my eye on that as well, but they aren't easy to find and are a little outside the range I am looking to spend at the moment. If the right one came along, I might pull the trigger though, since I could make up some coin by selling my current CD player.