hooking up my cdp directly to amp?

I am running it like the number 2 that you described. Thanx for the replies i am very much a newbie at hi fi stuff. I am using the pionner elite as basically a pre amp. I use the preamp outputs of the reciever to the amp then the speakers. the cdp is hooked to the cd in on the reciever. I had no volume control when i had the cdp to the amp. Didnt sound that good anyway. Should i get a good pre amp and bypass the pionner reciever. Im thinking that would be a better way to go. Is my reciever holding back my soundstage? Its a pionner elite vsx39 tx reciever. Probably good in its day but its pretty old now. lmk thanx alot for the replies im learning everyday. Kevin

OK, so improved soundstaging is your primary goal.

I would think that a majority would agree that loudspeakers, loudspeaker location, the room, and the acoustic interface of loudspeaker and room are the first factors to be considered. The PSBs ought to perform OK. We know nothing about the room, etc.

There may be more disagreement over whether the pre-amp or power amp is the next most important ingredient. Assuming that the power amp is OK, the receiver used as pre-amp may be holding you back, but without a good deal of experimentation and swopping components in and out, etc. that may be hard to determine.

If it is the case, then you are looking at the gamut of pre-amps out there, from the simple attenuators in that link that was sent, to "passive" pre-amps, to solid-state and tube and hybrid pre-amps.

I leave it to others to make specific suggestions for relatively inexpensive pre-amps that are soundstaging champs. Undoubtedly there will be a number of favorites.

sorry for the double reply this 4-8 hrs to get the post up is throwing me off. Ive never seen a site that was more than 30sec to post... sorry Kevin