Slow upgrade from integrated - pre or power first?

This is the which came first thing: the chicken or the egg? Which should come first: the amp or the preamp? I think that the best thing for me to do is groove with my Passion and Definitions, until the wife says "okay honey, I want you to order that fabulous cdp you have been waiting for all winter. Oh, and hon, that's 1.5 carets per ear, not total weight." The synergy may be just right. If not, I'll take it from there, but I cannot imagine the sound being anything but wonderful. What I want? I'll have to wait and see.

Now, that's a plan. Anybody??

i don't see a huge sonic benefit from either change unless you just need more power. in that case get the amp

Sorry I never answered your question and filled your thread with my agenda. Go with the Preamp, absolutely, before the power amp. It (forgetting power, and assumming that is not your problem) will yield dramatic sonic benefits to your rig, particularly if you go with the Modwright. If I were to own separates that would be the pre I would go with. Dan is a great guy: Listening wise, I have no experience with his preamp, but I know enough audiophools who own one, that are very happy campers.

I finally sold my Passion and am waiting on an Audion Sterling MKI with British vintage Gold Lion tubes. Should be a match made in heaven with my new speakers. Hopefully.