2. amps-preamps
  3. 176198-10803

After years of separates, I'm going integrated. Anyone else do the same?

I'm rethinking my listening room. I want my audio rack to be more minimalist vs lots of boxes, wires, and clutter. I know separates, in general, will sound better. However, at the level of my system, I'm not certain the difference would be as apparent. In the grand scheme of things of Audiophilia, my level of components are mid-fi at best (BHK Pre, First Watt J2, Elac PPA-2 phono, Pro-ject s2 Dac, ZU Omen Defs)

I'm favoring one of the Luxman Class A's (I know Luxman is getting out of the Class A business. The only way I would favor a built-in Dac is if it were upgradable like McIntosh or Accuphase. I'm guessing a Luxman or Mac built-in phono would sound just as good as to what I have now (Elac PPA-2).

So the question is, who else has gone to integrated? Do you regret the move or are you glad you did?

 

aberyclark
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rustler
135 posts
 

I sure did.  I went from a Spectron amp and Zesto preamp for my Martin Logan Summit X electrostatics to the Simaudio Moon 700i integrated.  The Simaudio unit is a match made in heaven for the quirky Summits.  I'll never look back,  . . . maybe.

 

donjr
1,335 posts
 

I got so sick of the merry-go-round that I bought a Accuphase E600 years ago. It's pleasant to listen to and I don't crank tunes loud any longer. My dog is old, my wife and I are in our mid 50's. I lost the ambition to chase the perfect sound, I like my Accuphase integrated, CDP and tuner and I'm just rolling with it. When I got into the hobby at the age of 14, I never imagined I'd have what I have now. That said, I'm surprised at how good some of the gear I had sounded early on. Most notably, NAD. There was also a time when I had to recover from Rotel separates with a Rogue Cronus Magnum that was like being cured from a disease. If I could cure the audio world of a disease, it would be Rotel.

213runnin
914 posts
 

I gave up on separates. You must have the correct cables, you must have the correct tubes and to get synergy with all the components was so much fun. (Sarcasm). Then, the system must be running for a half an hour before it sounded it’s best. Plus for me using all Schiit gear, You have to reach the back of each unit to find the power switch, and they have so few features.

So I went with an integrated from a brand I used to know, Parasound. The Hint 6.  160 wpc.  Built in dac, phono, headphone amp and analog bass management for a sub.  Plus a lot of other features, but the sonics are quite good.  Recently I found out it made Stereophile’s recommended list for 2020.  

alex_m
3 posts
 

After almost 40 years switching components came to conclusion that pro preamp + active speakers is the right combination.

Anything else is just stupid hifi - music should sound like studio engineer hears it. 

rick2000
464 posts
 

WOW this new Western Electric WE91E 300B Integrated amp is amazing !

MUCH BETTER than I thought it would be !!

Review..

https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/amplifier-reviews/integrated-amplifier-reviews/western-electric-91e/

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