You might want to email Steve McCormack & ask him that question. I was in the same boat a few years ago. I was using a Creek integrated as my pre-amp and I didn't know if I should buy a pre or have my DNA 1 upgraded. I emailed Steve & he said "definitely get a quality pre-amp first, then worry about the upgrade".
Vandersteen 2ces, McCormack 0.5 and which pre-amp
Vandersteen 2ces and a McCormack 0.5 amp seems like a pretty popular combination among people on this forum. So, my question for the Vandersteen 2ce/McCormack 0.5 people is, which pre-amp are you using with this combination and why? I mostly listen to classical and opera, am currently using a Rotel integrated amp as a pre-amp and am thinking about making the move to a pre-amp. I play CDs only.