user poll on seperates vs integrated

The answer is more simple than many are making it seem. Price is absolutely a great indicator of performance! Very few expensive products perform poorly, but that does not guarantee that a lower priced product won't perform equally as well. 

To directly answer the OP's question with an example:

  A $12K Gryphon Integrated will sound better and is better built than a $6K Parasound Amp and $6K Preamp!

I’m about to begin my speaker adventure and from reading comments and reviews, which is all I can do at this point, I’m leaning towards mono blocks. I came across the new Burson Audio Timekeeper 3XGT that seems to have great reviews. This might be an option to consider as well. The description on their website states no preamp needed for these mono blocks, though I already have a Felixs Audio Euphoria Evo that I plan to use with them.

The issue is not only sound quality but the heat created could cause issues in the preamp section of the integrated amp.

Music lover who went integrated amplifier, finally go to enter the separated amplifier, as the play period is way longer than  we think when we start. So to save money,go separated at first step.

For $10k you can purchase a tube preamp, monoblocks, speakers, and a turntable. You simply have to buy them used. I’ve done it. The most expensive item were $9.5k speakers for $3300.

I own Primaluna KT88 mono’s that also accept EL34’s. My preamp is an Inspire LP3.1, that allows me to swap a multitude of different tubes. My speakers are Martin Logan Spires.

So yeah, $10k can still go a long way.

To your question on integrated’s: if it’s a tube integrated, absolutely great. I don’t feel the necessity for separates. People who feel that way likely haven’t owned a solid integrated.