Amp vs Preamp which is more important?

Hi! I remember my hifi dealer in Paris (Presence Audio Conseil in Ile-St-Louis, splendid location and shop) happy to see me SO CRAZY HAPPY after I bought from them a second-hand Cello Encore Amplifier. It was a replacement for a Moscode 300 hybrid amp to drive - at that time - a pair of Audiostatic 300. I loved the Moscode and the lights and all. But when the small double mono 50W transistor amplifier came home, I rediscovered every LP and CD I put in.

Coming back to my dealer’s place a few weeks later, I asked (just to have an advice, I couldn’t afford it) if there would be the same difference if I changed my YBA3 pre to a Cell Encore pre.

Then, Gerard (it’s the name of that guy I knew for years since the shop started, back in the 70s), Gerard looked at me and said: "There will be much more differences, a huge improvement on the amp."

Since that day in the 90s, I always considered that a pre could be determining your system balance and transparency. Much have been said about this in the previous posts, and I agree with most of them. Even if my Wadia 16 needs no pre, thanks to its integrated digital volume management , I prefer the sound of it through my "small" Jeff Rowland Consonance pre (as you noticed, I’m still looking for an affordable Encore Pre).

So, I’ll probably buy the best pre I can get for the money, and put the same amount in the amp. And choose the pre first. If I could (I did the opposite, naturally). But If money was no question, that’s what I’d do.

Just hopping back in to say thanks to everyone here for the wisdom shared!

Blind testing has led me to believe that the amp is a little more important.  Each component becomes increasingly easier to identify blind the closer you get to actually making audible sound. Source<Pre<Amp<Speakers.  I’m assuming a digital source, I’m not sure where I’d place things like turntables/arms/needles etc.  I don’t have much experience w/ vinyl.  The room is also very important but it’s not really a component unless you have a dedicated treated room.  I’ve got a mullet system and have tried many different dacs, streamers, preamps, and amps over the years to make improvements.   I kinda gave up on separates though and found I prefer the esthetic of an integrated amp and small streamer/dac like the Wiim Pro.  Personally I have found that as I go upscale in gear, it becomes more about form then function because everything you try sounds great after a certain point. 

@tattooedtrackman 

The reason I am not upgrading to the Reference 10 right now is because it is not a financially reasonable thing for me to do. But if I correctly envision my financial status in a couple years, I may be able to do it. On the other hand I am very happy with my Reference 6SE. Improved financial condition… plus incentive of an even better two box solution might be the level of enticement I need.  

In my opinion, the pre-amp first.  I would get the best pre-amp I could afford and build from there.

The Amp also depends on speakers selected.  So there is a back and forth involved.

Hi efficient speakers don't need arc welder style amplification.  Or, not so efficient speakers need more powerful amplification or if the speaker's impedance is low, then you need specific amplification to drive them correctly.

But, the pre-amp is typically not system dependent.

Also, yes, there are digital sources that have volume controls incorporated.  However, they typically are not internal pre-amps and therefore are not control amps that have multiple inputs.  So if you decide to have more than one input source, that digital source with a volume control really doesn't cut it.

You have an SP16 pre-amp.  That pre-amp has a decent incorporated phono section.  So, you currently have multiple inputs, volume control and a decent phono section.

My recommendation is to "borrow" a REF 3, REF 5SE, REF 6.  Take them home, and listen in your system doing an A/B comparison with your SP16.

I did that with my SP9 MKII, SP11, REF 3, REF 5 and REF 6. If it wasn't for wanting remote control capability, the SP11 is outstanding.

However, the REF 3 is very nice indeed, even compared to new pre-amps.  You can't go wrong with a REF 3.  The REF 5 vs the REF 3 didn't show enough of a difference to warrant (justify?) upgrading to the REF 5.  Just not that much of a sonic improvement.

however, the REF 6 vs the REF 3 was a noticeable difference.  Then I got a deal for a REF 10 (the best) that I could not pass up.

looking at your current system, The only thing i would consider upgrading at this time would be the pre-amp.  Go for a REF 3 or a REF 6.

enjoy