For me, upgrading the power amp brought an enhanced sense of air, ease and effortlessness. Tonally, maybe it added some top end air and maybe some bass control. A good power amp is like a strong, quiet bodyguard: it's there if you need it but otherwise unnoticeable.
Upgrading the preamp was more dramatic. Distortions disappeared: shrillness or glare on violins, flutes and upper register piano vanished; the bass tightened; clarity increased. Overall, upgrading the preamp cleaned up the whole shebang.
The best improvement in sound staging came with upgrading the source components. I had a CD player that tonally seemed to get it all right, even at high volumes. But it was only after discovering the depth an external DAC provided that I realized how vertically flat the player's presentation was.
Budget wise, finding what you want on the used market is largely hit or miss. That makes it difficult to precisely plan an upgrade campaign. Choose products that suit your sensibilities, pay attention and if you're lucky they'll fall into your lap, one by one. Early on, hotrods and units offering twice the performance at half the price had an appeal to me. But nowadays it's all about quality and degrees of fineness.
Upgrading the preamp was more dramatic. Distortions disappeared: shrillness or glare on violins, flutes and upper register piano vanished; the bass tightened; clarity increased. Overall, upgrading the preamp cleaned up the whole shebang.
The best improvement in sound staging came with upgrading the source components. I had a CD player that tonally seemed to get it all right, even at high volumes. But it was only after discovering the depth an external DAC provided that I realized how vertically flat the player's presentation was.
Budget wise, finding what you want on the used market is largely hit or miss. That makes it difficult to precisely plan an upgrade campaign. Choose products that suit your sensibilities, pay attention and if you're lucky they'll fall into your lap, one by one. Early on, hotrods and units offering twice the performance at half the price had an appeal to me. But nowadays it's all about quality and degrees of fineness.