Spend more money on the amp or the pre-amp?

As an additional comment to my post above, for $800, I'd also highly consider one of those Chinese integrated tube amps.  Audio Space, Antique Sound Labs, Jolida, Prima Luna - there's a lot to choose from on the internet.  I'd also consider a custom tube integrated as well....I much prefer tubes over solid state, so I would get any of these over the Creek, Yamaha or any other SS integrated in this price range.

Yes, i agree with the suggestion to find a vintage Japanese integrated amp/preamp//tuner.   The higher power Pioneers my favorite.

But for $800 make sure that 40+ year old vintage piece has been truly refurbished not just cleaned 

Nakamichi CA5 < $300 and PA5 < $500, can't think of any integrated < $800 can beat that combo

It depends. Do you you need a phono stage, tape loops, HT pass through, how many line level inputs.? Perhaps more importantly, how much power into what kind of impedance load do your speakers need in your room? Depending on the the answers to the above, you might find some power amps that are suitable for use with some fairly inexpensive passive pres.