Does Separates really sound better than Integrated

I recently listened, at a non-audiophile friends house, to a new Yamaha AS-1000 integrated she bought from Crutchfield.
If that was all I had to use for the rest of my life I wouldn't feel bad.
Best Integrated I've heard.

Schubert, what was rest of that system?

She has a pair of Boston Acoustic A-25, which sounded good, and a Yamaha CD player, I don't know the model.
The 2 Yammy units together looked elegant.
DNM speaker wire and IC which I gave her.Herbie tenderfeet all around, also from me.

A top-shelf integrated amp can sound:

(a) equally as good as most top-shelf separates; and depending on other factors can also beat them;

(b) certainly better than most fair to middlin' tier separates; and

(c) completely smoke the lower tier separates.

I have an old pair of Boston Acoustic A10s of mine from the 80's in the basement awaiting some refoaming work. I always liked those and have to wonder how good they might sound these days with the right supporting cast.

I have been looking for a decent quality good value pre-amp for my second system. I need to look at what Yamaha might have these days. I've always had good luck with that line.