Dan-O:
We'll discuss it more this weekend, but years ago, I went from a Krell KS-50 and CJ tubed preamp (name forgotten) to a DIY solid-state integrated that a good friend of mine--a master engineer with two graduate degrees from MIT--built for me. It weighed 90 pounds and had a transformer the size of my head (which is quite inflated, as you know). Anyway, my friend's integrated really put a serious beating to the Krell combo, and I sold that setup in a hurry. Integrateds are getting better and better every year, and while separates can sound better than an integrated at equivalent pricepoints, it depends on the designs in question. There are some FANTASTIC integrateds on the market right now that can compete with separates at significantly higher price points. In addition, you have one less component in the chain, which is almost always a good thing. In theory, having the power supplies separated is superior to having them in one chassis, but I think integrated design has evolved to a point where a well-designed integrated can seriously compete with, and sometimes better, more expensive separates. With your current equipment, I definitely think you can find an integrated that will better it. It might take some research, but it can certainly be done, IMO. It never quite ends, does it? :)
We'll discuss it more this weekend, but years ago, I went from a Krell KS-50 and CJ tubed preamp (name forgotten) to a DIY solid-state integrated that a good friend of mine--a master engineer with two graduate degrees from MIT--built for me. It weighed 90 pounds and had a transformer the size of my head (which is quite inflated, as you know). Anyway, my friend's integrated really put a serious beating to the Krell combo, and I sold that setup in a hurry. Integrateds are getting better and better every year, and while separates can sound better than an integrated at equivalent pricepoints, it depends on the designs in question. There are some FANTASTIC integrateds on the market right now that can compete with separates at significantly higher price points. In addition, you have one less component in the chain, which is almost always a good thing. In theory, having the power supplies separated is superior to having them in one chassis, but I think integrated design has evolved to a point where a well-designed integrated can seriously compete with, and sometimes better, more expensive separates. With your current equipment, I definitely think you can find an integrated that will better it. It might take some research, but it can certainly be done, IMO. It never quite ends, does it? :)