Integrated vs. separates

[b&w fan]

This is a very basic topic, but Why is it tha people always think about separates being better than integrated receivers?.
Does it holds true for every combination of equipment? for every kind of music? every kind of application?

[bulitnv]

Better? Depends on preference.

If you don't have enough room for seperates, integrated is better.

If you don't have the lettuce to spend on seperates, integrated is better.

If you want a cleaner sound, seperates are better.

Of course this is only my opinion, it just happens to be correct :T

[Sim reality]

I think from a basic standpoint you have to make compromises in a intergrated system that you don't have to in a separated system.

The compromises occur because "the enemy" of eletronic nirvana is heat, interference and dirty power.

Separate boxes allow you to dissipate heat more effectively, isolate eletricaly signals to reduce interference and build separate power supplies to the feedback of the individual components on to the power supply is isolated from each other.

Side benefits is you can upgrade things separately and it makes your setup look real mean will all that heavy metal showing

[Clepto]

If you're going to be using the exact same budget however, then it gets into a greyer area.

i.e. if you have $2000 to spend on a receiver, or go with $1000 amp + $1000 processor... The 2k receiver might drive 7 channels, but the 1k amp may only drive 2 channels... But with seperates, you can buy over time... Get a slighly cheaper receiver, to act as a pre, and combine with a really good 2 or 5 channel amp. Then add a good processor down the road, etc.