"max graff" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi guys,

My old two channel pre-amp has gone coo-coo. Time to go shopping.

I am looking at Rotel as I am very happy with my existing CD player.
Should I go for a integrated amp or should I go for a pre amp
connected to a power amp?

You forgot the third option - the receiver. An integrated amp is a receiver
without a FM section. A power amp is an integrated amp that you use with a
separate preamp or other controller. Of course you know all that.

Usually, all other things being equal, a receiver is the cheapest solution.
This is because of the power of the mass market. I see a lot of integrated
amps that are no better than a good receiver.

The most flexible tool is the power amp. There are situations where that is
all you need. There are other situations where the built-in control
facilities of an integrated amp get in the way. There are other situations
where integrated amps that have all of the features you want, like maybe a
preamp for a certain phono cartridge, are hard to find.