Preamp upgrade

It wasn't on your list, but you might consider a Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp.  I upgraded from two different conrad-johnson preamps.  I was worried that I would miss some of the warmth that the older c-j preamps are known for, but I didn't. I'm using mine with a Coda solid state amp. 

Tubes make a big difference in the LTA preamp.  Telefunken and Siemens work best for me.  

You're already in some pretty thin air, and it looks like your streamer is the next thing I'd consider upgrading. Judging from the sales on the Node I'm seeing all over, there's a new model in the Wings. So you might want to wait and see, or jump.to an Arender or something such. Much more likely to get a bump in SQ there, rather than by swapping preamps.

You're already in some pretty thin air, and it looks like your streamer is the next thing I'd consider upgrading. Judging from the sales on the Node I'm seeing all over, there's a new model in the Wings. So you might want to wait and see, or jump.to an Arender or something such. Much more likely to get a bump in SQ there, rather than by swapping preamps.

Consider a McIntosh C22 MK V, synergy with your phono preamp plus the benefits of high resale value and a solid level of customer service.

What you should be concentrating on is finding a preamp that will work best within the system you have. It has to play well with your existing amp, speakers and sources. In other words, saying that one preamp is better than another has no real bearing on whether or not it will work for you in your system. Some owners get lucky and mix brands successfully while others are constantly changing while looking for the perfect match. And still others adhere to staying within a single house brand. Think about this before you proceed and best of luck on your journey.