Integrated Amps vs. Separates.

Now Jules, why would you compare used prices for the separates and new for the integrated, come on!!

I wish I had more time for this reply, maybe later. In the high-end arena, integrated's have always been sneered at. We are entering a new age where integrated's are making a huge come back. It kind of reminds me of the CD player, where the market went crazy with separates and now they are making awesome one box units. There are many advantages to a one one box, not just the advantage of one less cable. To build a chasis for a amp or preamp is expensive, so is packaging. There are a lot of companies that are coming out with integrated amps now that were dedicated to separates. I just purchased Mark Levinson's first integrated amp, the 383, and I love it. They claim that sonically it competes with their 380 pre and 334 amp, this is a $13,500 setup, the 383 is $6000. I encourage you to go to http://www.madrigal.com/383_SP_Rev/SP383rev.htm. This is a copy of the review of the 383. I am not suggesting you read this for the sake of the 383, but they cover some good point to integrated amps and mention others. Gotta run!

Once again I am short on time. Eldragon, I tested no other integrated amps. I was using a Meridian 557 amp and 502 pre. A guy I know locally offered it to me used. I disagree with the statements that for the same price separates is the way to go. It would cost a company less to make a amp/preamp in one box (i.e. interagted) than to make them in two boxes at the same performance level If money is no object, clearly separates are the way to go. Why? Nobody makes a "cost no object" integrated. And if they did, I can't imagine the size of it. But, for the most of us, if there is a itegrated in our price range, I would think it would be worth a listen. Drawbacks are the obvious up-grade factor. The Plinius 8150 has gotten great reviews. At it's price point, $3000, my guess is it would be hard to beat with separates. I would say the same with the 383 I just bought, at $6000 I think it would be hard to beat. Again, go to the Web site I listed and just read the first few paragraphs and read the strong points for them and a list that Stereophile has tested lately, a list that is growing rapidly. The Absolute Sound is testing a host of them in their current issue.

I think there is a mis-conception of integrated amps. As I stated, there are no "all out, no money limit" integrated amps, at least that I know of, but there are for separates. In that light, separates are superior for all out performance. Therefore it is conceived that they are just plain better. Seprates have the ability to upgrade the two sections obviously. But at price points that include integrated amps, I have to believe they become very competitve. Heck, I too have fallen into that trap.

Jules, so you are saying no integrated can match any set of separates? The person who started this thread asked, "given similiar price ranges". I must not be making my point clear in the other posts. If you have a budget, lets say $4000, I am saying there is the possibility, you could purchase a integrated that would outperform $4000 worth of amp and preamp. Is that clearer? Now if you have NO budget, your best performance will come from separates. The availabilty and choices are clearly in favor of separates, but there is a surge in the manufacturing of integrated amps and selection is getting better everyday, especially in the high-end arena.

Nobody is getting excited Jules, you are just not getting the point. Dollar for dollar a integrated can sound better, that is the point.

Ok, then compare a $6000 dollar integrated at a $4000 used price. And yes, all that matters is that WE are happy with what we have.