another rookie question - preamp or or power amp

. . . to relate my own limited experience, I got into separates in '94 and it was an immediate entrance down the vacuum tube rabbit hole.  Except for the preamp.  Anyway, since then, I have only owned three different tube amps (I still own two of them) and 3 different preamps (and I still own all three of them), so I am not trying to come off as the know-all/be-all last word of wisdom.

My first upgrade (it was an amp ugrade) was a major equipment upgrade.  Definite expansion of width and depth and height of soundstage . . . but still sort of missing something that I thought/knew must be out there.  At that time I was using a B&K digital HT (Dolby Prologic) pre. It didn't sound bad, it didn't sound good, it just sounded. I came across a real affordable deal on a VAC two channel preamp with a pair of 12AX7s from Audio Advisor so I ordered it and I truly WANTED it to sound good.  It didn't.  Nails-on-a-chalkboard.  I sent it back.  In '99 I came across one of the few local dealers (he no longer exists as such) who had a used and wierdly modded Cary SLP90 for sale so I auditioned it for a weekend.  It had one of the six tubes basically out, and the cabling the dealer sent me home with (an adapter to go from RCA out to balanced in on the pre) was totally wrong, but despite all that, and the fact that all of the above made it sound like hammered crap, it truly sounded musical.  Based on the changes I felt I was going to have make, I made the dealer an offer that he accepted.  I replaced the tubes and got the right cable (balanced out to balanced in) installed, and it was really the great sound I had wanted.  (I later sent it to Cary to undo some of the previous mods.)

Down the road I changed amps again, not because of sonic quality but because of reliability issues, and about three years ago I saw what I thought was a decent price on a preowned preamp that I had always sort of been lusting for (plus the fact that I thought my SLP 90 was sounding tired), and the most recent new to me preamp I put in my system did impart sonic differences--not as sweet and warm as the preamp it replaced in my system, but more detailed and more "spacious" (if I dare use that word).  A larger sonic presentation.

Anyway, TMI I am sure, but this is what I have personally experienced with different preamps and amps in my system.

Frankly, i’ve built many amazingly good systems around a lowly NAD 3020 A Integrated and eventually adding a more robust power amp….. BUT by putting the bigger $ into the transducers ; cartridge and speakers.

One such combo: Denon DP-47F > Grado Sonata > NAD 3020A > Vandersteen 1’s

BUT i understand the itch to try and learn by doing….

Lets coordinate for loan of a tube Belles preamp, so you can evaluate the change, scratch the itch and not be out any $…..

Jim

@immatthewj I did think about buying a preamp from the big retailers for around a $1500 on a credit card. I think it's a good idea actually because it would show me if there is a difference. The downside is that once I return it, I would have to go for an older version of it, because the latest one would still cost more on the used market. E.g., Parasound P3 vs P6, but still, it would get me going.  But your advice is so far the best one, for my limited knowledge and budget.   

@tomic601 you are Santa :) I will follow up, thank you

Also…. those in San Diego looking for used gear would do well to troll thru Stereo Unlimited from time to time… hundred or so used components at any given time

Not exactly Craigslist pricing…. but often close… and they consider offers….