Hi,
I have a pair of speakers that I don't want to change (ever, if possible) - Dynaudio Contour 1.3mkII - but upstream, it's a different story: integrated amplifier is NAD C372 and CD player is NAD C542. Overall sound is not all that terrible, I admit, but still it's too crude and shallow for my taste. Now I'm planning to upgrade electronics step by step, starting with amplification (I have some 2000 $). I want to heighten the quality of my electronics to Contours' levels, with 3D soundstaging (depth!) as a paramount virtue.

I wonder how much of sonic "delicacies", soundstaging and all, are concentrated in pre-amplifier section of an amplifier system ? My main dilemma is this: should I replace NAD with some decent integrated amp, or should I go for a preamplifier instead and hook it on NAD's "main in" and use NAD as a power-amplifier ? (Would it be too much difference between two units ? Is it the real McCoy only if both pre/power units are from the same or similar price-class & brand ?)

I would be immensely thankful for any advice on this subject,

Vlada