Biggest impact: moving from integrated to separates

I agree that at a $3000 budget it would be difficult to do better than the Cronus via separates or another integrated. Different sure, but better?

@helomech @mesch Thanks for your replies. I am looking for separates with balanced connections which the CM does not have. My listed budget of $3K does not mean that I think this is what it will take to best the CM, it's really just my budget.

When I have spoken with Rogue previously, I asked what the built-in phono pre would be on par with price wise. They said it's on par with a $400 phono pre. My upgrade to a Pass Labs XP-15 was transformative, albeit, at a much higher price point ($2,400.) As I peel away what I am using the CM for into separates, I am looking to achieve this type of transformative performance.

I should also clarify, my budget of $3K is for either a line stage preamp OR an amp, not both. 

@twoleftears I would hope that an RP5 and Stereo 100 could best the CMII or why produce them? What would the value prop be if a separate $3,500 preamp cannot best a $2,200 integrated of the same brand?

I have not heard the RP5 however, I have heard the RP7 which was unreal, but the source was a Dave DAC and it was playing through Focal Kantas...so what was I really hearing? Who knows..

I'm eventually going the opposite route, going from separates to an uber class integrated like Gryphon, Vitus or T+A.

I now understand. Replacing a $2000 integrated with ~$8500 of separate phonostage, line level pre, and amplifier is another proposition.