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Cary 300 Single ended integrated

If I purchased an intergated amp.,I would always wonder how much better my system would sound with seperates.Also you can tailor the sound more to you're liking with mix and matching and you can also upgrade components seperately if you wish.

Have had quite a few over many years. Unless they had a pre out/main in jacks, I always missed the ability to try other amps or preamps. Other than that, some were very good, some were terrible, and some were just average -- about like any other class of component. The best was a Scott tube kit from the '60s, the rest were also rans. I thought the NAD 3020 was grossly overrated.

My NAIM integrated amp [Nait 3] sounds much better with its power supply [Flat Cap], so I still end up with two boxes on two separate shelves.

My system workhorse is the excellent but-no-longer produced Musical Fidelity A220 integrated amplifier. It provides all the power and flexibility I currently need. I would upgrade only to gain a little extra horsepower

Actually, a Carver Receiver! It feeds NHT SuperZeroes with the matching NHT powered sub, and satisfies my need for good sound. Source is either the local 24-hour classical FM (WCPE, also on the web at wcpe.org) or a Marantz CD67SE.

I am only 23, so my budget only allowed for a $1000 limit for amplification. I chose a Denon PMA2000R Series 3 amp - built like a tank, heavy, dual-mono design with superb circuit layout, and good sound . . . Well, my choice for sub-$1000 amp is absolutely INTEGRATED. For the money, I can't ask for more.

I don't have a problem with using an integrated amp. I'd like to have some fine separates or even a high end integrated amp but the humble Denon that presently does service in my system works well enough with my other equipment that I still get a buzz listening to music every time I have an opportunity.

I have a rega mira, might upgrade to Mira/Maia.

I don't need source switching. I don't need tone controls. I don't need gain. I don't need output buffering. I don't even need a balance control. My volume control is at the front of the amplifier. Hey look, it's integrated!

Although it necessarily compromises sound quality to some degree, I have always greatly preferred the ease and convenience of integrated amps. Besides, the best integrated amps (Classe, Krell, Linn) can sound very, very good, even if never quite the best.

I have been learning that you can get great sounds out of a compact affordable package. I think I'll take the extra money and pour it into better speakers.

I have a Krell kav 300i. I remember this creating quite a stir when it was released in the mid 90's -- Krell doing integrateds!! Staunch audiophiles tut-tutted, but those of us who weren't gifted with trust funds or lotto winnings bit the financial bullet and just bought the damn thing. It took me three months to pay it off (I didn't even have a credit card!). But was it value for money you ask? Well, just have a listen! And for a price which would buy only half the required kit if one went separates. Of course, all good integrateds possess a preamp out so one can upgrade if desired -- but after almost two years of life with the Krell 300i, I chose to put the money instead towards upgrading source components and a phono stage. The other advantage is the saving on interconnect cables! Not all integrated amps are as good as the Krell, but if you shop carefully, it may be all the amp you need for a long time to come! If and when I do get the kit of my dreams(yes, OK, separates all the way -- including DACs and monoblocks), I don't think that I will look back on my integrated days with anything but pleasure.

audio lab 8000 is fab so is audio innovations alto and the yba integre creek 4330 is good too

I use a Levinson No. 383. Advantages are convenience of use and space saving (I live in the UK and space is expensive!) without loss of quality.

There have been issues, lack of quality in Dolby Digital processor/decoder for one. The Amp is relativley clean (used only for the amp now). Model is a Yamaha RX1105 Receiver 5 x 125watts. Now I use a Rotel PreAmp/Processors and use the Yamaha as a Power Amp. The surround sound processing is much more impressive.

Integrated amps are more practical: less waste of space, half of the expensive boxing is needed plus you need less cables, connection to let the power find its way. So there is few on the other side beside the fact that most top-companies do not go for integrated amp, especially not when being tubed. They should!

Three things: cost, quality and convenience. Integrated amps are not just entry-level components anymore. A properly matched system containing an integrated amp (tube or solid state) can be very musical and satisfying. With an integrated amp you save on space and have fewer interconnects, plus there's a higher spousal accceptance factor (always a good thing). I have a Jeff Rowland Concentra which provides more than enough power to drive most speakers and if I need more power in the future, I can use the Concentra as a pre-amp and connect it to an outboard amp. My feeling is, that at this price range, 90% of us audiophiles cannot tell the difference between integrateds and separates (I know that I can't). Integrateds used to be the perennial bridesmaids of high-end audio, but take a look around and you'll note that this is a growing market with manufacturers such as Arcam, Mark Levinson, Red Rose, VAC, etc producing excellent integrateds at all price points. Whether you're just starting out or are upgrading, keep integrated amps in mind. You won't regret it.

My systems have always been at the low end of the high end, so to speak. Though I have gone both routes, integrateds have given me the best results: They have the fewest compatability problems and the best sound for the buck. I guess one has to spend around

I only use an integrated for my bedroom and workshop systems where it saves on space.

I switched from pretty expensive separates (Musical Fidelity NuVista pre-amp, Music Reference RM10's set up as monoblocs) to a Conrad Johnson CAV 50 integrated, and I would NEVER even consider returning to seperates. Everything is simpler, and it's one less variable to worry about. It helps me focus on the music. Not having to agonize over what kind of interconnects I'm using between amp and preamp, what kinds of power cords, two sets of NOS tubes to be concerned over, etc takes my mind off the gear and lets me concentrate on the beautiful music my system is creating. For what it's worth, and this may be purely psychological, I think I'm getting better sound from the CJ than I was with the separates. If I buy a new amp in the future, it to will be integrated.

A lot of people put integrateds in their bedrooms. Much more romantic than another telly!

I'm very happy with the Krell KAV-300i. Yeah, separates are better but the Krell is as far as I'm prepared to go in my audiophilia. KISS.

The performance is good but only limited to the top of the range models e.g. Mark 383, MF M3, Jadis Orchestra.

From my point of view, separate pre and power amps are only suitable to the very high end, which integrated amplifiers cannot reach. Below this level, integrated amplifiers provide a better price/performance ratio. Don't forget, you need to buy an additional signal cable, an additional power cord and an additional stand.

During my trip to audio nirvana, i have used both integrated and pre-power combos from different manufacturers like Classe, Electrocompaniet, Krell, Jeff Rowland, Mark Levinson and others. I can now conclude with certainty, that when an integrated amp is well designed and executed (ie. separate power supplies, good shielding of transformers, unobstructed signal path etc.) then the quality of sound is very close or even better than that of the pre-power set. Keep in mind that a pre-power set includes a changing factor, which is the interconnecting cable, while integrated amps don't. This means that failure in cable selection (which is not rare at all) results in degraded sound quality. After many years of experimentation i currently use an integrated amp (M.L. No.383) from which i am extremely pleased.

the lees problem by cabling,with saved money investing in Power suplies,and I'am satisfied with my YBA Integre

linn classik

I have a Bryston B60R. It's a pretty good integrated. After three years, it's aged like fine wine. Finally, I went "separate" for more transparency.

I used separates for at least 20 years. But now I have an integrated, the BRYSTON B-60R. The best amp I ever heard. Very small, but very good build quality. Nothing sounds better!