What's most important synergy wise???


I have a VK-D5SE CDP as my source, a VK-20 for preamp and MC501 monoblocks.

I am planning to get a better preamp and am considering both the BAT VK-52SE and the McIntosh c500 tube two-piece combo.

The BAT can be upgraded to the REX, has product line synergy with the CDP and allows me to control both the CDP & volume with just one remote.

The McIntosh has product line synergy with the Monoblocks, but forces me to wield two remotes...

Do you think the synergy between the preamp-amp is more important than that between the source-preamp ...Or... is the synergy between the source-preamp, with all the low level signals, more important???

(Or am I worrying over nothing???)
know_talent
As above... what sounds good to one listener is just that ,
a personal preference . I don't equate that with synergy .

Synergy is about components that work well together . Whether one prefers the sound or not !

You wouldn't put a 3 watt SET amp with speakers having a wide impedance curve rated at 80db. And you wouldn't put a preamp with a 1k ohm output rating driving an amp with a 2k ohm input rating and so on . While you may get them to sound good to someone , with the right circumstances , it would not be a synergistic match .

Know talent ; you are worrying about the right stuff , just alter your priorities . It all matters , just to varying degrees . I still believe that the amp>speaker synergy is paramount with the preamp>amp coming in second .

Donning flame retardent suit !

Good luck .
Saki70, totally agree with your "synergy" hierarchy. I think the source>pre is not much of a synergy; only if your using low-gain cartridges is it much of an issue. I would choose the pre without too much ragard to the digital source in this case (from a "synergy" perspective).
From my experience-

Speakers>Amp
then the best source you can afford with preamp that will not
get in the way of music and that is also as transparent as possible but if it can add that special sparkle, magic......even better. Of course it has to be matched with amp's input rating.