Integrated vs. Separates on a Budget


$3000 is my max.

TIA

klimt
Post removed 

Sorry Klimt, I do not have informed opinions about contemporary "Swiss army knife" integrateds -- my Pass is "just" an amp -- although I have enjoyed a friend's Hegel (I would want to get clear on service support from them, though).

I tend to agree with those that think a 3k investment is high, given your current speakers, and you could make a nice match for considerably less.

But I also think that if you stay in the hobby, it is a certainty that your current speakers will not be your last, and it is not unreasonable to invest in an amp you can grow into over time.

Thought of that way, you should probably get a higher power unit, to have more speaker choices in the future.

One thing I wonder about with integrateds incorporating lots of digital functionality like streaming: do they have a long useful life, or do they become obsolete fairly quickly?

 

 

 

Ok, thanks again.

Can anyone recommend a cheap/good phono amp so I can test out the Project Debut Carbon over the Holidays?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lot of information missing. Is a remote needed? NO

How many inputs? Not sure.

Does it matter if the room gets warmer? You mean with tubes? Not sure what you mean.

Is a phono stage needed? Yes, I'd like to improve on the Denon.

Is a dac needed?…..Yes. Streaming as well.

TIA