price point to move to separates vs integrated

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.

I decided to stay integrated and just piked up a Line Magnetic 216IA. It is a wonderfully musical little amp.

Nowadays, integrateds can sound as good as separates up to whatever price point you care to name. Separates and the cables they require all add their own sound to the mix and yes, it can be pleasing but it is more accurate than an all in one box solution that can minimize those variables? It all depends on the design and how well it's implemented and how it sounds in your system. Anything else is conjecture.

A couple of weeks ago I saw an ad here for a Burson PI-160 integrated which I own and is now discontinued. The seller said it operated in Class A and I know it's a Class A/B design, so I emailed him to see about it and he wrote back that he spoke to Burson and they say that it does operate in Class A for most of it's output, almost to its rating. Considering that I have Tonian Labs speakers which are 95db efficient, it explains why it sounds so damn sweet, detailed and full bodied. Granted, it's not much to look at but that's not why I bought it. After learning more about it makes it all the more sweeter.

All the best,
Nonoise