Integrateds: Why do they all SUCK?

One of the biggest problems with integrated amps historically is proximity of internal components, for example, and in particular, noise levels resulting from proximity of a power transformer to the low level pre-amp circuitry and even worse lower level phono circuitry, if that included as well.

Having said that, the Bel Canto C5i digital integrated, about half the size of a shoe box, is perhaps the quietest (and best sounding overall) amplifier I’ve ever owned, quieter perhaps even than the almost $10K worth of separates I use currently in my larger main system. I suspect the fact that it is an all digital amp design contributes to that greatly. I gave it a shot to test the waters with the latest and greatest all digital amp technology and may never look back again. It seems all digital amp technology these days is a game changer!

The new Anthem STR integrated amp looks promising.
Happy Listening!

The OP has already answers his own, once again trolling, question. "Aside from a few very high end products", yes it's expensive to do all those things right. As with many things you get what you pay for.

I went from a Audible Illusions Modulus 3B pre and Odyssey Stratos Extreme stereo amp to a McIntosh MA6600 integrated amp and have never been happier.

If there was no entry level many would have to sneak in, and I'm now far more worried about the exit level. Also, is it me (don't answer that) or am I imagining recent articles in audio mags regarding cool "one box does it all" integrated amps with DACs, streaming, plenty of power, maybe a tube here and there…seems like a world of cool stuff.