Where in Montana? I used to live in Sealy Lake and Wolf Creek.
Integrated amps are just an amp with inputs/outputs, and tone controls. An amp doesn’t do a dam thing but amplify a signal and pass it onto the speakers. The pre-amp does the thinking, - receives, manipulates and distributes the signal to the amp.
Separates are considered the primavera of audio components because each piece of independent electronic gear is a stand alone unit with a lot of real estate to route wires and mount electronic gizmos that make it work, where receivers lump everything into one box. The concept behind separating equipment is more room to lay out the internal components. Folks who buy separates are usually not on as tight a budget as folks looking at receivers. Manufactures knowing this, can then have more latitude to put higher grade components into the finished product, and take more time getting them through the plant. The QC is generally tighter. That’s about as simple as it gets……
