Preamp or Processor First


I have been slowly building my home theater and 2 channel system.  I have Sonus Faber Guaneri Tradition with the Vox center channel.  I am currently using D’Agostino Classic 3 amp and a Yamaha CX-A5100 processor.  Streaming with a Bluesound Node 2 and Transparent Cables and interconnects.  It sounds pretty good considering my front end.

I am ready for my next upgrade and I am thinking of replacing my Yamaha with the Mcintosh MX170.  While I use the system for movies and TV, I really want to improve the sound for 2 channel listening.  My question is this, should i get the MX170 or get a stereo preamp first.  Will the MX170 sound nearly as good as a say an Audio Research REF6?  If the MX170 would be a massive increase over the Yamaha and sound great with music but also improve movies I would probably go that route.  But if an excellent tube preamp can really make an even bigger improvement for music then I might wait on the processor.  

Just to share my plan; I will eventually have both, along with a much better streamer/DAC and will move the Guarneri’s to the study and replace them with the Amati’s for the mains.  I will ultimately use the Classic 3 for center and rear and get monoblocks for the Amati’s.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

~Mobius
mobiusmu
Another thought...

What about getting an excellent streamer/DAC and going direct into the D’Agostino amp and skipping the Yamaha and holding off on a preamp?

I eventually will get a preamp, but I could do the stream/DAC first.
Thanks for the feedback.  Now to listen to some preamps!  

Since my amp is SS, I will probably lean tube, unless I get the D’Agostino progression.  So it will probably come down to a Tube Mac, Audio Research Ref6, or the Progression.

Thanks again!
Preamp!

  CD player for music. 
   Descent cables. 

     The Rotel CD player is nice!

  
You have some important decisions in front of you. I would go for the preamp. The decision of Mac or Audio Research Corp. is a good one and very critical. These are two vastly different solutions. I personally am firmly in the ARC camp, not because it is better... but because of its sonic characteristics. It is very detailed, very natural, not lacking bass or midrange bloom. The classic compliment of Sonus Faber is ARC with Transparent. Over time I have slowly migrated to all ARC Reference components with my Sonus Faber Amati Traditional speakers and all Transparent Ultra Gen 5 interconnects. I like all kinds of music.
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MacIntosh is also a well loved sound... they look great and are known for their slam and midrange but are somewhat lacking in detail. The analogy I like is Mac is the American muscle car the ARC is Imported sports car. If I listened to primary rock I might be more inclined to buy Mac. I highly recommend sitting down in a showroom with an all ARC system and a MAC system. To me I can tell which it is in seconds. I have spent lots of time with Wilson as well. Amazing sound! Loved listening... but not what I want to listen to every day. Each company has a house sound, you want to find the house you want to be in. Mixing different sounds can work... but you can end up having the components work as filters. If your source is a bit soft in the top end, and the preamp is good with high end details but weak on the low end and the amp is warm... you might achieve the required tonal balance, but the source cut out high end detail, the second cut out some of the bass detail and the amp can’t amplify what it didn’t get so you are soft on top amd bottom, well, you see it’s complicated. The level of performance you can expect from your speakers is very high, you want to make sure to carefully choose components so you get everything out of them you can. I have had three sets of Sonus Faber after three decades with planar and hybrid. I will not be changing.

Also, the audio source is REALLy important. I started at the bottom with a laptop (iPod before that) and stepped up to a Aurender WE20SE... and the biggest change was the last... this is a world class source and profoundly impacts the sound like a great turntable / Phonostage effect the outcome.
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I have a separare home theater... I am not nearly as critical with that system since I am distracted by the video. However it is still a great system B&W 805 all sides and 2 800 series subwoofers.

Given your existing components...you plan of  separate home theater and audio system is a good one. Combined purposes always result in substantial compromise... given the components you already have it would be a shame to compromise the potential.