price point to move to separates vs integrated

I recently replaced a classe ssp 25 pre/pro with a lightspeed attenuator and I must say, if you have a good dac and the qualifying specs for the lightspeed, and can live without a remote, I don't think it's possible to beat the sound quality for the money. I'm talking $800 for my classe ca-150, $450 for my dac, $500 for the lightspeed, $200 for cables. My $2000 set-up sounds damn close to most $3000 pre amps paired with $4000 amps.

If you get separates you can control your sound by changing the preamp, amp, and/or the interconnect between them. Upgrading and fine tuning is thus more flexible. If you've got audio OCD that's probably the way to go. If you just want to find great sound and be done with it at a relatively lower cost an integrated makes more sense. I go separates, but I could easily be happy (and maybe happier overall) just buying something like a Hegel H300 and being done with it. How OCD are you? That's the real question. Best of luck.

If you get separates you can control your sound by changing the preamp, amp, and/or the interconnect between them. Upgrading and fine tuning is thus more flexible.

Agree! If possible, I will always use separates for this reason.

I didn't see any mention of space. This is one of the main reasons why people get integrated amps. Separate pre-amp and power amps take up space, where integrated will not. There are some very nice integrated amps out there. You should investigate them. If you have the space, money, time and love music, then take your time and really try out separates. It has taken me literally decades to get my system to where I am now. I started with integrated amp, separate tuner (otherwise that would be a receiver), tape deck (very nice one), and decent Klipsh speakers. I still have that integrated amp in the bedroom with some hand made Oak transmission line speakers with Jordon drivers in myh bedroom with a very nice CD player that sounds wonderful. I'm thinking about getting a tubed integrated, but I don't want to spend a fortune. My listening room system has evolved. So, you really can't go wrong with integrated or separates, because you can move the integrated into another room while upgrading your main listening room later if need be. Again, there are some really nice integrated amps out there.

Integrateds now are amazingly good, and I've heard some recent tubed Primaluna and Jolida stuff that sound beautiful...recently heard an old SS Creek that still kicks it. Much of the sonic disadvantages have been rendered irrelevant really, but if you're like me and many others around here, you like to tweek components, wires, placement (my tube amp near the floor away from other stuff makes speaker cable length and amp heat more manageable, the preamp up with other front end items), and other stuff that keeps you involved in the hobby.