How much preamp will improve

Kr4: It's only a suspicion or a guess from my part. It usually sounds fine when I am using the Nad541. When I am using the Cary303, I feel like the 303 stresses the system a bit. And the only thing I can think of is my preamp stage is not up to the task.

i'm using a HT-oriented pre/pro (rotel rsx-1055) - it's actually a reciever, but for 2ch i'm using the main outs to separate amplification - and i can tell you from having tried several 2ch outboard preamps (in place of the rotel) that there is A LOT of room for improvement there. i've used tube based pieces such as the Eastern Electric, and an old-school PAS-3 (non-X) and found they changed the character of the entire system drastically. i've also used other HT pre-amp only (outboard processors) and found things were different.

note, i said different. not always better. simply put, you're going to need some AMAZING (read: $$$) interconnects in order to overcome the separation of the two pieces. put another way: moving the processor out of the same box of the pre might solve a few things like power supply, noise, whatever, but has the potential to cause a LOT of headache / nightmares / costs.

for HT, i'd say either get a better integrated pre/proc. and amp, rather than spend money on separeate processors and preamps (the only reason i'd suggest that is for upgradability re: different formats in the future). for 2ch / music, i'd say, separate them to your heart's content: lets put it this way, you can spend the $$ on 2 really nice ICs vs 8 for 7.1 :)

I dump my whole HT setup because I enjoy listen to music more than getting shaked by the pounding from the movies.
I used to have sony 9000ES digital preamp with Bryston 9 BST. The music never as good in HT preamp. The first preamp I jump on was Audio Research SP-11 MKII. Even to this day, SP-11 MKII is still one of the best preamp out there. Another recommendation is Counterpoint SA-5000. This is the bargain in preamp. Very nice and sweet sound like no other preamp and yet it is very transparent and not muddy.

I think you can have the best of two worlds by having a preamp with a HT bypass. It would be a bit cumbersome to operate but I don't mind (having no wife yet :-)).

Andy2, the HT pass through is simply one button, even I can do it!