Downsized and still happy, can it happen?


I would like to hear from those who have moved from separates to an integrated amp in their system and your experience in doing so. Any buyers remorse in selling the separates? Are you still running the integrated or now considering separates again? Do you still get the same level of satisfaction from the system? Which pre/power amp did you have and what integrated replaced them?

Lately I find myself constantly considering and researching high quality integrated amps and admiring them for the all in one solution. I have all these components, powercords, conditioners and interconnects that I could unload and then replace with fewer higher quality versions. That is pretty much what is driving me into this little sidebar consideration.
dlwask
Hey Pehare, I just noticed your "new" system. Thats a change alright! Glad to hear you've found something you like better. I have heard the new Coincident (forgot model) with Manley this year at CES and they sounded great. Hopefully if I make a change I won't turn my entire system over. Ideally I could just combine pre and power amp (maybe phono stage too) into a single unit and keep the rest intact.
>>IF your source matches to the impedance of your amplifier the best preamp is no preamp<<

Not true. Many sources benefit from a high quality linestage. Do some homework.
I believed that separates were superior until I bought a Creek 5350SE for a second system. The right integrated, mated with the right source and the right speakers is superior in many ways.
Dlwask, You may find it interesting that VSA has been doing a lot of their speaker demos with integrated amps (VAC) and in talking to them, they seem to lean in that direction.
My seperates have been sold. With absolutely zero sellers remorse.
The synergy between my integrated amp and speakers is remarkable.
in other words... The sound I hear makes ME happy.