Why? I am thinking my EVO 300 integrated's preamp section is a limiting factor in music quality.

I base this on: There isn't much preamp hardware in my EVO 300 integrated (see linked pics?).
The EVO 300 amp-only and the EVO 300 integrated have the same tube complement, and, to my eyes,
almost the same internal layout.

They didn't jam the entire stand-alone EVO 300 preamp section into the integrated chassis, they went streamlined.
I am curious how much preamp section there actually is, and what it actually does. Any thoughts?

How much is gained replacing the integrated EVO 300 with its amp-only version (EVO 300) and adding a preamp of some sort ?

Additional info and thoughts...

Until recently I had Cary separates and it was good. (That amp died).
I find that my PL EVO 300 integrated isn't as good as my old Cary separates, I believe the preamp had a lot to do with that.

To gather more info, I would try running my Cary preamp into the PL integrated, but my brand new Primaluna Integrated EVO 300 is away somewhere being fixed, and the down time has given me some useful time to think about the system and its wounded pieces (in unrelated carnage, my ancient Bel-Canto cdp died, and my Innuos server thingy is non-func as well). January has been a weird month for me in many ways.

Last thing, when I have mentioned running a preamp into the integrated to my dealer guy, and to some guy at the PL mothership, both were vaguely disapproving of the idea and said there is not a preamp-in connection, and I would have to run the Cary preamp into the HT bypass RCA connection (which is labelled 'caution' on the back of the unit). I don't understand that as I don't do HT at all

• amp vs. preamp internal layout

 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Wojciech 17:09:28 01/15/21 (1)
 I appreciate your comments. Thanks nt. - Valva Actual 18:37:25 01/15/21 (0)
 "my brand new Primaluna Integrated EVO 300 is away somewhere being fixed" - BS64 23:41:46 01/10/21 (2)

...

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 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Wojciech 17:09:28 01/15/21 (1)
 I appreciate your comments. Thanks nt. - Valva Actual 18:37:25 01/15/21 (0)
 "my brand new Primaluna Integrated EVO 300 is away somewhere being fixed" - BS64 23:41:46 01/10/21 (2)
 RE: "my brand new Primaluna Integrated EVO 300 is away somewhere being fixed" - mbnx01 16:45:12 01/15/21 (0)
 RE: "my brand new Primaluna Integrated EVO 300 is away somewhere being fixed" - Valva Actual 12:48:41 01/11/21 (0)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Palustris 08:51:26 01/10/21 (6)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Valva Actual 17:47:01 01/10/21 (3)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Blackdog 18:04:43 01/10/21 (2)
 I understand and am similarly inclined... - Valva Actual 22:09:23 01/10/21 (1)
 RE: I understand and am similarly inclined... - 6bq5 09:34:57 01/11/21 (0)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Ivan303 09:09:05 01/10/21 (1)
 variable gain preamp make a lot of sense - LtMandella 09:51:52 01/18/21 (0)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - RGA 02:40:31 01/10/21 (0)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - AbeCollins 15:17:30 01/09/21 (1)
 RE: Primaluna integrated questions... - Valva Actual 19:30:15 01/09/21 (0)

Bruce Rozenblit has come to that conclusion, and in fact has retired his Grounded Grid preamp for a new design he calls the slider.

He does explains the electrical rationale' quite well.

It is a variable gain preamp...

• the slider

I can't use your amp as an example but it's helpful to make comparisons with companies that can actually let you make comparisons.

Example: Audio Note P3 power amp is a 300B power amp that has a volume knob. You can run one source into into it and it is a "get you by" integrated.

BUT you can also listen to the M2 Preamp and run them as separates and heard the rather substantial improvement it makes.

You can then also listen to the Meishu. The Meishu is an integrated amp that houses the P3 and M2 in a single chassis with separate power supplies and shares one power plug.

Now - as you point out the power amp appears to be extremely similar to the integrated. So what you would need to do is try the preamplifier that is the partner for the power amp and then compare that to the integrated.

But not all companies make equally good stuff. Awhile back I compared my old Line Magnetic 219IA to a Melody Valve Audio integrated and I prefer the LM. However when I compared the preamps and separates I preferred the melody Valve Audio. I greatly preferred the melody Valve audio preamp to the LM ones.

Now my old LM 219IA has preamp in so that the 219IA could be used as a power amp. The Melody 101 pre was dramatically superior - it lifted the amp significantly. This in spite of the fact that the LM's preamp never really gets out of the way.

Personally, I prefer what I have heard from Cary to what I have heard from Prima Luna.

You might want to try an Audio Note M1 preamp and P2SE power amp if you're looking for a more full-bodied presentation. The M1 is still relatively affordable. I am currently reviewing it and boy it's quite nice. I am running it into both Class D high power amps(200W+) and an 8 watt 2a3 and 12-watt EL84 amps.

In the end, I always prefer separates - with a good active preamp like the M1 you can then buy power as needed. It's in the $2,500 range. The Phono stage is excellent - an actual true tube phono stage, not some cheap off-the-shelf board.