BAT amp + cheap pream vs BAT integrated vs Prima Luna integrated

Integrated pre and amp are definitely less costly than separates.  Used equipment is typically half the price of new.  Every piece of gear I own was bought used, except the speakers.  My wife got tired of me taking her to stereo shops, she just bought them for me.  LOL.  Still using them. 

@tykozen I had a Primaluna Evo 400 Integrated, I also had Coda CsIB and Krell Integrated all at the same time, I was able to swap them out, compare.  I also had a Krell 300xd and Krell Illusions ii Pre, Parasound A21 Amp, Zesto Leto Pre, PS Audio BHK pre, Coda 07x Pre.  Along with all that gear, also have placed several different HT Receivers in the chain as Pre’s for 2 channel listening.  What I found, out of all the gear, properly matched Pre / Amp separate combo tough for an Integrated to beat but, but some Integrated’s can get close or even better separates.  What a well designed Integrated does is provide much more value for the $$ and maximized synergy, limits cables, can provide a great experience through simplicity.  All that said, I landed on the Krell Pre and Amp separates, came down to synergy and flexibility.  If you are thinking you won’t upgrade down the road, an Integrated can offer tremendous value and take guess work out of the equation.  Primaluna is a solid brand, choice, out of the gear I have had in my system, it was my least favorite, for tube gear, sounded solid state.  Both the Coda and Krell integrated’s outshined the Primaluna.  If you are going to upgrade the pre, going with a rock solid Amp as a foundation to the electronics, great strategy and will provide more flexibility on being able to swap out Pre’s or the Amp.  Picking an amp or integrated that matches your speakers is key as others have pointed out.  Coda, Krell, Music Fidelity, BAT, Rogue, Cary, Aric, Linear Tube Audio, Schitt all offer great gear at various price points, they offer tube gear, SS or Highbred and many of them will take your call, offer advice on what’s your needs in their line up of gear.  The other couple of learnings, the pre really does matter, makes a big difference, the HT AVR’s couldn’t hold a candle to pre’s designed for 2 channel only.  Depending on the design of the Integrated units, wide range if the type of pre section, for instance, Tube Integrated preamplifier sections aren’t usually anywhere near as beefy as a stand alone Tube Pre, some solid state Pre’s will have a stand alone pre section that can function as a preamp only, won’t be identical to separate pre’s from the same manufacture but often shares the majority of design, parts.  Freya as a Pre to start is likely a great choice, haven’t heard it but tons of posts about how good it is for the $$, you can get one with both SS and Tube optionally.  Good luck. 

Just echoing the others, the amp matters less than the pre, better to spend more on the pre. To simplify your life you might even consider a solid state amp behind a good tube pre, this is a very common configuration that yields some tube magic.

Thank you very much for your comments! It is nice to belong to a community that triggers so much passion. 

My speakers are ATC SCM 19 Mark I, eventually I will replace them as well but for now they are by far the nicest part of my system. Obtaining the synergy that is mentioned in this thread so many times, I understand, will take some time, effort, and surely lots of $$. I already contacted a divorce lawyer, it will surely become handy soon...

My budget is $10,000, ideally including a phono preamp (actually ideally it includes the turntable but I am not going to make it). The option of the VK90T would only be possible if I connect it to a cheap preamp, and the Freya seems to be pretty good and cheap. Yes, ideally I should integrate to a BAT preamp, but that is not possible, at least now.

My concern with used is the ratio $ invested vs probability of needing repair or even replacement. I do not know technicians or how much they usually charge. The guarantee offered in new equipment (or Demos) is a factor that I take into consideration. 

Having said that, what are your thoughts about TMR? Seems to be a serious place to buy used. 

On another note, I need to clarify that the Prima Luna integrated amps that I am considering are the EVO 400 and the EVO 300 HYBRID. The VK90Ts I have seen are demo versions at 1/2 the cost of a new one. Initially I was looking for solid state integrated amps, for their clarity, which i appreciate. The tube amps and integrateds I am checking, supposedly, are clear and transparent, for being tubes.

Thanks in advance!

Many feel that a preamp is a key component.  At the very least, a system is a chain that's only as good as it's weakest link, therefore I would not add a cheap preamp  to a great amp and expect top performance.  The system would most likely sound like the cheap preamp. You could do it as a stepping stone while you save and research for a proper preamp to go with the amp.