Downsized and still happy, can it happen?

Maybe I'll move my Marantz SR19EX receiver (don't laugh, I love that thing) into the main rig for a few days to see what happens. Just a little flavor change and see how I react to the new sound...I've never A/B'ed it with the Pass Labs stuff :) If I switch to an integrated I'm not just looking for different, I want improvements over what I am hearing now.

Dude, I've been there done that and lived through it, and yes I am happy. I used to have VTL seperates, and switched to a Cary Sli-80 and loved it. The system is far simpler, as you pointed out and I get much more enjoyment out of it. Now, luckly I had speakers that allowed me to go to another amp very easily, 92db Coincident. The vtl was a VTL 150 and the Cary is only 80 max, but I listened to it in 40 watt triode most of the time.
You can do this if you take the time and find the right integrated for you. My big suggestion would be to make sure that you want tubes or SS before you choose.
Mike

I do not think one necessarily has to compromise when going to integrated amps these days (MAC 6900 and Levinson 383 are amazing integrateds). That said, let me offer you a slightly different perspective. I now have a DAC that also acts as my linestage. So, I have integrated a preamp and a DAC -- and I have a stand alone amp. This has worked out really nice for me.

I didn't have some of the exotic stuff mentioned here but
I am happy with less equipment and better sound. I switched from Rotel seperates and JM Lab speakers to an Audio Aero integrated and Soliloquy speakers. This downgrade cost less than half of the system that it replaced and sounds better. No regrets here.

I started a thread to the effect of advocating integrated amps and was politely slapped down. I ran a CJ Premier 17 , into a Pass labs Aleph 3 with Living Voice Avatars for 2 years and was very happy. Looking for a tube amp to match the CJ, I was advised by 2 dealers, that a tube integrated was very little more than a power amp. So I changed to a Viva Solista 18watt, SET based on 845 valves and could'nt be happier, apart from the heat. Downsizing is a relative term. It weighs 60 odd lbs and takes a lot of space, plus it runs HOT, which is causing dark mutterings from the wife.
I believe there is a real move back to integrated amps from High End Manufacturers, probably not the best they can make, which will be a pre and monoblocks, but well up the range. Look at Audio Research, Mark Levinson, Music Fidelity, Jadis and many others. Sure you loose flexibilty, but it means shorter signal paths and saving money. In my case that let me move up a clear notch in performance without spending more. It made sense to me and for tube fans there are some very good tube integrated amps out there for a similar price to a power amp.