you have brought up a number of interesting topics here.
1. If you go seperates, you will also have to shell out $ for IC's and with a $300-400 budget, that will use up @10% at a minimum.
2. I may be wrong, but if you just have a source and an amplifier, what will you use for volume control...I am a newbie myself, but from whay I understand, most cd players with volume controls are very expensive such as Audio Aero, Wadia (I think) and some others...I myself have wished for a combi player with volume control that fell within my price range.
I myself would recommend an integrated amplifier and try to stretch the budget just a bit...you'll be glad you did. Some of the budget integrateds that have received good reviews here are Creek (all models, but the 4330 is more in your range) Classe integrateds can be had for fairly cheap...they were recommended to me when I asked for advice (I was using a NAD 7220PE receiver at the time)...however...I wanted peace of mind after my used purchase and not have to shell out $$ for repairs of an out of warranty/non transferrable warranty so I went with the Bryston B60 that has a 20 year transferrable warranty...these can be had without remote in the 700 range...a couple hundred more for the remote versions...and with probably 15 years or so of warranty remaining...that beats most new products.
Remember...you'll always want to upgrade, so I think that getting something just a bit better at a bottomed out used price, you will lose fewer $ in the long haul.
just my 2c
Ellery
1. If you go seperates, you will also have to shell out $ for IC's and with a $300-400 budget, that will use up @10% at a minimum.
2. I may be wrong, but if you just have a source and an amplifier, what will you use for volume control...I am a newbie myself, but from whay I understand, most cd players with volume controls are very expensive such as Audio Aero, Wadia (I think) and some others...I myself have wished for a combi player with volume control that fell within my price range.
I myself would recommend an integrated amplifier and try to stretch the budget just a bit...you'll be glad you did. Some of the budget integrateds that have received good reviews here are Creek (all models, but the 4330 is more in your range) Classe integrateds can be had for fairly cheap...they were recommended to me when I asked for advice (I was using a NAD 7220PE receiver at the time)...however...I wanted peace of mind after my used purchase and not have to shell out $$ for repairs of an out of warranty/non transferrable warranty so I went with the Bryston B60 that has a 20 year transferrable warranty...these can be had without remote in the 700 range...a couple hundred more for the remote versions...and with probably 15 years or so of warranty remaining...that beats most new products.
Remember...you'll always want to upgrade, so I think that getting something just a bit better at a bottomed out used price, you will lose fewer $ in the long haul.
just my 2c
Ellery