another rookie question - preamp or or power amp

@grislybutter 

Hey Gris,

Your question may already have answer.  Double check if the preamp in your integrated is always in the circuit.  Meaning,  if you put another preamp in the chain, it will still go through the preamp in the integrated.  My Hegel, for instance doesn’t have a dedicated preamp input and will run the external preamp through it’s preamp and then to the amplifier.

All the best.

@curiousjim 

Wow. Exactly, Thank you!

I have been looking at the different combinations and wondered why some integrateds have the main input and the preamp our and then connected with a dongle vs. just the preamp. That's how ignorant I am. I don't have a main in.

@grislybutter

Unfortunately, upgrading "one tiny step at a time" is not a strategy that is likely to keep you satisfied in the long run. I dare say, everyone here, at some point, has experienced situations when we wanted to upgrade but simply couldn’t afford to spend what it would take to make a real improvement. 

It’s not clear to me which aspects of your system’s presentation you’re seeking to improve. If you simply must spend that $400 now, it’s possible a power cord upgrade or vibration control could yield some noticeable benefit, depending upon what your goal is.

Preamp has controls, sometimes a phono stage, sends line level.
Power amp takes line level and ramps it up to speaker level.

You need both, though they may be combined in one chassis (integrated amplifier).

@stuartk I understand. Given how "budget" my current amp is, it could be an improvement though - or so I thought.

I already have had a lot of help here and I think I will be on the right track.