Separates vs. Integrated


Rather New to the site, however I have been doing a lot of research about putting together a system with separates. I was wondering if someone could recommend some good pre-amps/amps in the range of $500 - $2000 that I should check out as a kind of starter system. Also, I have been researching integrateds as well, which seem like you get more bang for your buck, but they are similar to receivers (ie. not separate) - thoughts on going this avenue as well would be greatly appreciated. Oh and planning on running vinyl and cds mostly.
cseideneck
Thanks much for all the help and great suggestions. I am off to listen to some speakers. Going to check out some PSBs among others. Any suggestions you guys have?
On the Psb's category, the Platinum M2 are multichannel speakers system, all with aluminum-dome tweeters and impedance of 4ohm. Is the best cohice if you plan to use a multichannel.
When you find a speaker that you wish to purchase , consider the amp that was driving it also . Maybe not the exact amp but something further down the same manufacturers line . Usually manufacturers stuff have the same basic/house sound with varing degrees of presentation .

As mentioned above , the amp-speaker mating is just as important as the speaker-room mating . You may not land at the final place this way but should arrive in a pleasurable
place for a nice start .

Good luck .
That is good in theory but not many companies make good amps AND good speakers. GamuT does and Naim also,although their speakers are somewhat idiosyncratic, but the list isn't too long and tends to be at the top of the market or the bottom of it. This is one of the main reasons why powered speakers, with all their theoretical advantages, have never been popular. Designing amps and speakers are very different jobs, someone like Peter Walker at Quad could do it but he was a rare bird.