another rookie question - preamp or or power amp

i think it is the best idea... And at the lowest price...

It can be possible to even integrate a tube pre-amplifier in these mono amp i think...

The Fosi headphone amplifier i bought for peanuts price , the Fosi sk01 + 3 tone controls is a steal...

It is not chinese junk ... I use a tube low cost pre-amp with it the Douk P2 at peanuts cost too which i use also for my near field active speakers ... Very good sound ...

It seems audio china is no more junk only ...

For a bit higher price than what i paid  ( 60 bucks ) you could have a very good tubes pre-amplifier under 200 bucks ...

I would go pre out from your IA, into two Fosi ZA3’s run in Mono mode. Get the 48V, 5A power supplies. The two will run you about $300, and I believe you will be majorly delighted with the power and sound quality. These 3255 chip amps are amazing, and I believe they will be the next big thing in terms of amplification.

thanks OP ...

I prefer the look of my other Sansui AU 7700... But i use it no more for now ...

The alpha 607i is a notch over it though in all aspects save flexibility...

It was so amazing that he drives better my headphone K340 than one of the best tube headphone amplifier on the market ...It takes me minute to compare because he beat it on the spot... I never imagined that an headphone out of a 100 watts speakers amplifier will beat a top tube headphone  amplifier with not even a comparison because i lost near 300 bucks in this trial comparison ( save the ratio noise /signals was better on the tube amp because his separate linear power supply was a top notch one). but all others characteristics were better with the Sansui , for example the out of the head impression, the timbre, the deep bass the imaging and soundstage ... The alpha was the top of the Sansui history ... mine is only the first basic model ... Imagine the rare top one existing only in Japan at high price even after 25 years or more ... In my headphone it is evident that the sound is tube like even if it is an S.S. amp... The best realistic timbre i listen too speakers included ...

@mahgister the Sansui looks awesome!

Knowing what i know now i will go with separate for speakers or active speakers with preamplifier + headphone out ( which is what i own ) ...For many reasons ...

Flexibility, tube -S.S. combined, tone controls equalizers addition , top preamplification stage superior to most integrate at some price point ...

Also upgrading scale is easier with 2 pieces than one ...

And i own a top Sansui alpha 607i integrated where all is very good...but i did not have the model upscale Sansui where pre is separable from the power section alas!... I use it only with my headphone now anyway which are impossible to drive well with most headphone amplifier if not all ... I know i tried for one day with one of the best tubes headphone amp existing and i fail ( no comparison at all) and return back to the headphone out of the 100 watts Sansui after a heavy lost of money ( almost 300 bucks) ...

You already  had some answers by members friends  here ...

And i think if you choose well a 400 bucks a power amplifier will go a long road ...😊

But take the time to decide between the power-amp and preamp option and the only integrated ...The best option can wait for you then wait for it reading about these choices and the market offerings ...

If i had money i will buy a LTA Berning  ZOTL tube pre-amp + S.S. power amp ...

i live well with a low cost headphone and speakers system and i lack the experience to advise you about amplification and pre-amplification for sure... my best advise would be as i did,take a long time to pick it and read a lot.... I was happy only after doing this exploration between choices ... Dont let the fever for change push you to act prematurely ...

I wish you the best Christmas for you and your family ...🎄

You dont mention your speakers then it is difficult to recommend an amplifier ...

By curiosity which are they ? 😊 Efficient one or not ?

Unlike many people i had reduce the size of my room and speakers and i had never been so happy , even if my soundstage is not as spectacular as in my past acoustic room this is satisfying and surprizingly clearer because my past speakers were old and i listened now in near listening field ...The small  active  modified speakers i own had other qualities compared to my past speakers...

Then downgrading is not necessarily loosing on all counts ...