Separates over time, or Integrated now?

Its buy what you want, sounds like you want the separates and I agree, buy the c2800 now, and as @chenry above said get a NAD or other modest amp, I have done this many times over the yrs, works great, then when funds are good go for the 462, the key is you get to use and listen to the c2800 now.

@bound4h 

Other’s on this thread have given you advice on gear, most of which I concur with, except the advice on financing your gear. I’m not a fan of going into debt to build a system…Here is what I did…

I was in your situation 10 months ago when my previous SS Primare System, which was a good system, Primare A33.2 Preamp, 130 Amp and CD 21 CD Player with a single REL R-305 sub), that started falling apart after about 12 years of use…

I had already been planning to put together an all McIntosh system and began to buy components as far back as 8 years ago. I wanted as warm and detailed a sound as I could achieve within the McIntosh fleet. I started with buying open boxed and demo-models from Magnolia Audio, ie; (2) MC275 Tube Amps, a C-2600 Tube Preamp and a MCD550 SACD/CD Player and stored them in my garage for years. 

In March/April of this year McIntosh offered a Trade-In/Buy-Up Program whereby I traded-in the C-2600 for a new C-2800 because it has new features that I wanted. My local audio shop allowed me to come-in with the C-2600 and compare it to their C-2800. They matched my home setup using my C-2600 with a MC275 and a pair comparable speakers, a pair of Sonus Faber’s. Then switched to the C-2800 playing the same tracks of music. There was enough noticeable difference between the two preamps, so I ordered a new C-2800.

After receiving the C-2800 I decided to finish the system and added the rest of the McIntosh components to complete my current system along with originally (2) REL S/812 subs. Later adding more subs to create REL’s Line Array Six-Pack with S/812’s. (which can be viewed in My System here).

My system has great synergy and sounds great! 

However, later this month I’m going to audition a pair of REL S/212’s, in my home, and decide which to keep in my system.

As I’m sure you already know, It’s a process!

Good luck completing your system…

Gary

Separates, Integrated’s. I’d suggest a tube integrated. You’d be surprised just how few watts you need for most needs. Also depends on what music you’re listening to. I’m a jazz first guy. Therefore I’ve had great results with as few as 10 watts. If you’re hard rock you’re needs will be very different from mine. 
 

I currently have both. But I’ve gone long stretches of my life with a 40 watt tube integrated. Now that I’ve gotten older I prefer having both. My preferences are for tubes. But sometimes I feel lazy and just want to have some music playing about the house. So I go for SS separates. 
 

There are a lot of inexpensive and good tube integrated’s available. Best of luck!