Looking to start a discussion on integrated Amplifiers. I would love to hear both arguments. Is modern technology (outside of dacs) superior? Or is a 20 year old similarly spec’d amplifier just as good? Is a 20 year old high end amp just as capable of a high end amp today?
With respect to the power amplifier component of integrated amps, Class D has vastly improved over the last 20 years. So a 20 year old class D may be obsolete whereas so modern class D is arguably the state of the art for power amplification. Class A & AB has not changed appreciably over that timeframe. The best Class D today competes with Class AB in sound quality and can outperform driving difficult loads.
With respect to the preamp section, incorporating tube buffers in the preamp section has become more common and can introduce a very pleasing sonic character vs solid state preamplifier sections. Whether that’s an improvement is a matter of taste. But it’s more accessible now with broader availability in lower priced gear.
Likewise all tube integrated amplifiers are more broadly available at lower prices for those who enjoy tubes.
My system uses a Bottlehead preamp and phono preamp and a Hypex power amp and that combo sounds fantastic. It’s not an integrated amp, but the point is the combination of tube preamp and class D power pairs extremely well in my experience.