Preamp or Amp?


I started a thread that has gotten no responses so I've started another one. Hopefully this is much more direct. I have a simaudio intergrated amp. Would I hear a difference moving up from an i-3 to a higher i-5 or Classe' 151 OR would I be best to move my budget up slightly and begin the trek down the seperates road.

Does the Preamp effect the overall presentation of a system more then the amp? I will be using Polk Audio LSi15 speakers. At what level of separates will I hear a significant improvement in sound quality? I've been doing some light reading, and have read up on some preamps the Copland 305, some CJ units...regardless of what I buy down the road, it will be used. Can a Jeff Rowland concentra or SimAudio i5 really keep up with most separates? I've been told by a few people they can. I'm not sure if it matters but the source is a John Wright modiffed Museatex DAC/transport combo.

I like the idea of simple one box solutions, not to mention the money saved on wiring. But a few people on this forum have told me if I like the sonic signiture of the LSi speakers, perhaps maybe it's time to look at getting a dedicated amp/pre-amp for further improvements, if thats the case which should I get first, the amp or preamp?
lush

Showing 3 responses by lush

The LSi's are very detailed yet also very warm. SMOOTH is the best word I could use to describe them. Much much smoother then the B&W's, Totems and Paradigm's I've heard. Higher frequency's simply seem to float through the air.
Brainwater: I've heard many great things about the Totem lineup. I've heard the Mani2's powered by Simaudio Celeste and wasn't impressed at all, even the owner of the Totems prefered the LSi's to his older Mani2's. Perhaps it was the mix, but I found the presentation to be stale, the LSi's really bring you in. I can listen for hours.

I've always been a source first guy, hence the reason I've spent so much (or little depending on how you look at it) on my redbook player, to ensure everything upstream would benefit. I really don't know what kinda level of preamp amp I would have to get in order to best a top flight intergrated like the Simaudio i-5 or Classe' cap 151 any suggestions?
I've heard the SimAudio i-5 might be spec'd lower then the i-3 but draws nearly double the current and is a much much more powerfull amp then the i-3, I'll look into the perreaux's, they seem up there in price, perhaps used.