Thank you Canuckle for calling me a dumb a$$ (and looking at your receivers I can see how your such an expert on separates). First of all, I'm not an audiophile and don't claim to be. And second of all, what I said was the truth whether you agree with it or not. Separates give you more versatility and for the MOST PART will sound better than a receiver. Sure it boils down to how much you want to spend, but MOST OF THE TIME comparing a $2K amp/preamp with a similarly price receiver, the amp combo will sound better.