Separates over time, or Integrated now?

I suggest going with separates.  You will upgrade or tweak your system over time and separates make it easy to do.  In addition you can try each component individually and make sure it meets your listening needs.  The only time I go with an integrated is for simplicity and/or space and/or financial savings.  Enjoy your ongoing musical journey. 

I'd suggest if you decide to go integrated, to demo a few integrateds before deciding.  I'm not sure why people get dead set on a specific piece of equipment when it behooves people to try multiple pieces side by side to get an idea of what they like.

Personally if I was in the market for an integrated product I would 100% try out a T+A Symphonia to audition vs others.  I had a friend who said it equaled his separates that included a $6k innuos streamer and amps and dacs that cost more than the Symphonia by far.

Just my two cents.  If you go the integrated route, maybe borrow some demo pieces.  Don't just blindly think "oh that integrated looks good" and expect it to outperform other similarly priced pieces without demoing them!!

In my opinion, separates are always better even if you do not hear a difference. It gives choice!

Mike

@bound4h, so much in audio, like life, is satisfying personal needs.

My first stereo included Dynakit amp and preamp in the late '60s.  Until last year the only integrateds I owned were a classic used NAD 3020 I picked up for a second system and a 300B PP unit with HE speakers..  Over the years I had tubes and solid state, stereo amps and mono blocs, preamps and line stages with separate phono stages.  I know there are claimed advantages with each choice but I found it was more of a matter of overall system matching than one particular component type.

Recently (and admittedly due in part to my age) I wanted to simplify my system by taking out the mono blocs, line stage, and extra wires.  I found a nice deal on a demo Accuphase integrated (making it more affordable) and I've not been disappointed..  A bonus was having tone controls (switchable) for the first time in years, plus a built-in headphone amp.

I can't answer your specific questions but part of that may be resolved by carefully defining what is most important to you.  Then planning the step by step path without compromises to achieve that system.

Or you could buy the C2800 now and a used NAD C298. You might never get around to the MC462.