Pros & Cons of Buying an Integrated with Built-in DAC?

MAN UP STUART!  Are you going to let a bunch on internet forum posting know-it-alls steer you in the wrong direction?  Are you really going to make a decision today about what might possibly happen a few years from now?  It's a scientific fact that nobody knows what's going to happen in the future.  My dog doesn't even know.

Seriously, buy the integrated with the built-in D/A and if at some point in the future D/A technology really does change, then purchase a separate D/A and plug it into an aux input.  Flexibility is wonderful, but it costs money and you still might not get it right.  Your most flexible option is to do nothing and keep all your options open.  Does that really make any sense?

I don’t believe an integrated with a DAC is a swiss army knife, although I understand the metaphor.

I have a Musical Fidelity M6Si. It includes a DAC. Overall I’m very happy with the unit as a whole. In my case I wanted an integrated and didn’t want to spend tens of thousands on separates (amp, preamp, dac, phono, etc.).

I think it comes down to budget and/or physical space limitations. In a perfect world where money is no object and space is virtually unlimited, sure, might as well get top of line separates in every category.

Key in any case is to look for something of optimal value. My M6Si MSRP is $3K and it can compare quality and sound wise to an amp, preamp or DAC separate that each cost that much.

I have Leatherman all in one tool and it's made of great steel so all of the units work perfectly and never getting bent.

if you buy a separate DAC, it too will age,  at the same rate as the built in one...

and some Integrateds come with a upgradeable DAC.  no right choice, whatever makes you happy