Hello all, this is my first post in these forums and certainly not to be my last! I have actually moderated for years at a Search Engine Optimizing community so I'm sure I won't grate on your nerves like a pair of Kenwood speakers driven by a Emerson receiver would

I need some information and I will roll a few questions into one post, which I know can be a pain so any information is appreciated.

1) What sound advantage does one gain when pairing a dedicated power amp with a pre-amp over an integrated amp?

I ask this as I have just purchased a NAD 2600A power amp which I will use with my NAD 3240 integrated amp as a pre-amp. I am assuming that both will be well matched as they are from the same era of production back in the day of the Power Envelope technology. Where do you expect to find sonic improvement when doing this?

2) Seeing as how both amp and pre-amp have the soft clipping control where would you set the soft clipping filter, from the amp or pre-amp?

I am driving some Energy C-5's coupled with an NAD C521BEE CD player. I am hoping keeping to all NAD components helps unify the musicality of the system.

From what I have read many people seem to feel that unless you spend big money it will be hard to beat some of the classic components such as the NADs I have mentioned above. Do you agree? Keep in mind I have no interest in AV application, I purely listen to music with my system.

3) Lastly, what is the relation to the source recording and volume adjusting with your amp? For instance, is an old recording at volume level 5 which sounds less loud drawing the same power as a newer recording at volume level 3 which would sound louder? I suspect the newer recording draws more power to reproduce the sound, but in truth I am very ignorant when it comes to this relationship.

I know that it is bad manners to post several questions in one post so I hope you all take it easy on me. Any information will be appreciated.