The search for perceived perfection afflicts me as well, it is both fun and frustrating in equal measure.
Like you the idea of a pre/power combination to improve control within the system appeals to me, many will say that a good integrated is all you need (and they could well be right) but I like the idea of a the potential flexibility that a well sorted pre/power combo gives.
I have also been looking at improving the power supply to each unit as this may also improve sound, but I am also aware that I may be chasing a minute improvement in sound at a considerable cost so lots of research required before I contemplate this route.
My HiFi store has been keen on me having a subwoofer for some time but at the moment I don't think that it is necessary, I would rather spend the money on more music.
The more I get into the wonderful world of HiFi the more I realise that there are some viable routes to sound improvement to follow and some to avoid at all costs, I also understand that I am unlikely to be alone on my journey and that others are able to offer help and suggestions.
Keep the thread up to date with your findings as I for one am interested in how you get on.
It will be a pleasure to share my findings.
It was mentioned by "nopiano" a speaker upgrade would be of a better impact yet I demoed a few to decide on the q acoustics 3050i Inc 2 sets of Dali's mentioned as a possible improvement.
Richer sounds seem to stock more of them than anything else now and both me and a friend found them "flat" when combined with the roskan k3 I came home with.
I've never heard the PMC speakers also mentioned.
I fully understand that the biggest difference in sound is made from the amp and speakers given that the other anciliries are of decent quality, hence the power amp theory, but think I might stay with the QA for now.
(I personally found them to outperform speakers over 1500 £ and more)
If I was to change speakers I would be looking to demo missions especially the new version of an old model the "700".
I've always liked mission from my first pair of 760i as a kid to the mx3s I've gotten hold of because of them being a favourite for a second hifi.
I've had 5 sets of missions all together and liked evey set especially the older 763i speakers I was gifted from my father only recently with a full 1991-93 award winning hifi.
Pioneer a400
System deck iix
Aiwa 3 head tape deck
Yamaha slave deck
Aiwa tuner
Marantz cd52 mk2
Mission 763i
Even the apollo hifi rack came with them 😊
Some of the vintage separates ended up in my main hifi despite demoing and purchasing new kit including the Marantz cd52 mk2, as mentioned in another post its that good I actually swapped it back over with its newer 6007 intended replacement into my second hifi set for it after replacing the common edject wheel cog fault I missed its sound so much.
Initially I looked at mission speakers again for the upgrade mainly the LX and QX series but when looking I stumbled into the QA 3050i which combined with the reviews and accolades I had to demo along side a few others.
Richer sounds no longer deal in mission and only order in so I couldn't get to hear them.
I try to avoid buying blind but after the QA's performance I'd heard enough.
Imo they totally outperformed the Dali's I'd heard only a minute prior in the demo room costing twice as much.
I wasn't alone in my findings that day.
It took various demoes of other amps and owning a few to find the acram sa30 the only one I liked as much as my favourite pioneer a400.
I did hang back until the software niggles were addressed having a roskan k3 in the interim time.
(2 units went faulty which is a story on its own)
I did like the roskan k3 especially with classical where it really shines but overall it lacked the lush warmth of the sa30.
Modernising and needing 2 hifis is the only reason the pioneer a400 is not inclusive to the main setup plus of course the driving force we all know of looking to improve.
I cannot describe how good a pioneer a400 is having heard and owned what's to most a vast number of especially vintage kit.
The system deck iix found its way into the main setup only this time with a full service and goldring e3 cartridge.
It speaks for itself in terms of quality evertime it's played.
For Bluetooth ive already done that dance and stayed with ifizen for the occasional phone connection.
Despite all of this and liking the Marantz cd52 mk2 I'm looking at separate cd transports, my thinking is that for the same budget as a new player one will get higher quality when concentrated on the transport only as to combine with the existing high quality saber es dac on the acram sa30.
I know the Marantz is capable of running as a cd transport aswell with a digit coaxial which I will try to see if there's anything much different.
One thing I have which can be for better or worse is an analytical mind.
I can't lie to myself about improvement if it's not factually there.
I can't validate a purchase by convincing myself something sounds better if it doesn't.
I do though recognise that even a little improvement goes a long way if combining it with other, however slight advances in sound quality.
Having access to richer sounds and their willingness to let me demo things willy nilly although I suspect it's because I've purchased from them various times helps so I'm not having to buy things blind and throw money away doing so.
Unfortunately however they only obviously have what they stock which is usually whats currently doing well in the mass market user reviews and press.
I yearn to hear a valve amp and assume I will like it yet have never been near one.
They are far too expensive to be just buying with a blind assumption but I'd like it if someone can explain what they sound like effectively.
Given all this I am very happy with the sound of my hifi but it's still an ongoing process, I'm not as some might think just throwing money around needlessly.
I demo things or if I'm convinced of something will improve things that can't be heard first purchase wisely or even second hand.
This forum and it's users Inc yourself I've found to be very helpful and a joy to talk with.