Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?

Not really!

No one company makes all the best, or can even guarantee the best synergy, within their brand.

And yes, there can be the best of synergy, with the right mix of brands!

Is there any internal phono stage that could compete with good external one? I will probably always be using separate phono but could live with excellent integrated, preferably not though.

Hi Erik:

I’ve been where you are. But if you view "audio" as a "hobby", albeit an expensive one, then there is nothing wrong with mixing and matching components. However, if you are feeling that you may be getting a little too obsessed with finding that "dream/perfect sound" and you are getting frustrated - it may be time to admit that you are searching for the Holy Grail as you will never find it.

The truth is there are no sea change improvements on the horizon for audio amplification. This is also becoming true of digital to audio conversion.

I used to be an "Audio Research Guy" - great equipment indeed, and pretty much for the same reason that you mentioned Tandberg. However, I became frustrated with AR’s marketing strategy of intentionally obsoleting its own equipment by coming out with a "Mark II" or "Mark III" model within just a couple of years of a product’s initial launch (AR is not the only company guilty of pursuing this strategy). But compare that to Mark Levinson, who continues to include the No. 326S preamp in its model line a full 11 years after its release! Why? Because there are no significant improvements to be made to the 326S. For what it does, the 326S is as close to perfect as it comes.

With all the above in mind. I decided to simplify and go with an integrated amplifier that includes a built in DAC. I do believe that there is a certain "synergy" achieved when a quality manufacturer such as Hegel, Mark Levinson, Ayre and others design an integrated amp. For instance with the Hegel 300, the internal DAC is different from any of its stand alone DAC offerings - this is true for all of Hegel’s integrated amps. The internal DAC is customized so as to achieve the highest sound quality. The other benefit of integrated amps is there is no temptation to "experiment" with and look for that perfect interconnect and power cord (well, at least only one power cord). The wiring is as direct as it can be. Also, in the case of the Hegel, should I feel that the the internal DAC has become obsolete, I can always bypass it with an outboard DAC. Hegel has designed the amp to make that easy. Should I ever choose to do that, you can bet that it will be a Hegel standalone DAC. And yes, Hegel makes excellent CD players. But the Hegel integrated and pre amps are very computer audio friendly - which to me seems where everything is headed.

Ironically, after what I said about AR. The Hegel H300 has been replaced with the H360. That’s okay though, I am so satisfied with the sound of the H300 that I would be nervous about replacing it for fear that I wished I had it back!.

This is all just one man’s opinion based on his decades of experience as an audiophile. I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Rathmullan

However, if you want tube and ss equipment, it is hard to go with one brand. Lamm and Nagra come to mind. But you asked about one brand do it all.
Since ideally I would want tube phono and preamp and then decide on the amp, my choice with one brand approach would be limited. And Studer deck would not be enough in modern world.
So, Lamm and Nagra would most likely be what I would be after. Not top of the line which will always be unaffordable for me. The same with Ypsilon and Absolare except maybe their integrateds if they can compete with Lamm and Nagra separates. For me, probably not, at least in the drive and scale, most likely bass too.