Are future improvements in Amp/PreAmps slowing to a crawl?

kosst_amojan,

If designers are discouraged in making improvements or trying to "perfect" a component because another component has its own issues then there would be no progress made anywhere.

Since I have succeeded in cleaning up distortion in amplifiers I guess I'll have to address the speaker issues next. However it might surprise many readers here that the bulk of ALL issues in a given playback system are in fact tied to the electronics. If you had the perfect amplifying method - a pair of Radio Shack book shelf speakers would still give you incredible imaging.

Its the electronics that provides 90% of a systems quality.

+1 This is just blatant nonsense. On the other hand, it mirrors and feeds on  the obsession of many audiophiles with exotic electronics. These days, the electronics are  boringly irrelevant once you reach a decent quality level (and that level is easily achieved and cheap).

It's the electronics that provides 10% of a system's quality... which can be critical to certain aspect of the listening experience, once xlnt speakers are used.

Sure, you need to have enough power (and for top level speakers lots of power), and the frequency response has to load independent (within 0.2 dB for your speakers). Both require a beefy (and hence more expensive) power supply. Even so, this can be achieved at relatively modest cost if you avoid boutique brands. Look here for an example: http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/amplificateurs-de-puissance-haute-fidelite/mesures-ampli-yamaha-p3500s-mise-a-jour-t30056383.html