Discrete Op Amp vs. Mu Amp for Distortion

[WGTP]

What are the advantages of one over the other?   

[earthtonesaudio]

Discrete op-amp probably has 3 transistors at least.  Mu-amp has two.  Parts count=win for the mu amp!

[DDD]

Mu amp is more "tube-sounding".

[petemoore]

  Not sure, the Mu is great but the drive is small w/Mu amp, might need that third transistor.
   I was about to increase my tech know about discrete opamps, which I suppose would be a precursor to getting what I wanted from that, so the Mu won. I built a discrete OA..as part of a rediculously large and I suppose kinda cool DS-1 type distortion with a discrete compression opamp, not sure it was compressing discernably..being a diode clipper too.
  After that I decided chips or Mu amps seemed easy to work with and get distorting, discretes were more involved.