Biggest impact: moving from integrated to separates

I have heard cheap separates that sound profoundly better than  integrated cost no object componet's.

Integrated amps can be better than separates. Yes, when they are.
Separates can be better than integrated amps. Yes, when they are. 

So I am going to focus on a preamp with balanced ins/outs up to $5,500. Yes I’ve increased the budget and I’ll start a new thread to gain recommendations. Thanks all for your feedback. 

Asp307, has there been any word from Rogue on the output impedance of the variable output?

BTW, for those who may own a Cronus Magnum II, I found the following statement in a description of that version of the amp at a dealer’s site:

The Cronus Magnum II comes with a host of upgrades over the original Magnum.... The variable outputs are now buffered for better subwoofer performance....

Assuming the buffer which is referred to is an active buffer, which it almost certainly is, I would caution anyone owning a Magnum II that Rogue’s suggestion to the OP that it would be ok for him to connect the output of a line stage to the variable output of his earlier version of the Magnum will not work with the Magnum II. And although it is probably unlikely, doing so could conceivably even cause damage, depending on the specific design of the line stage and the Magnum II’s buffer.

Regards,
-- Al

@almarg they said 100K