@swede58 if my math and pricing info is right, the Essence Pre/Power would be 75% more expensive than a Diablo 333 (without optional modules). So in theory you are right, not suggesting the price differential is anything meaningful but I’d expect it would be somewhere between a Diablo 300 and the Essence combo.
That said I’d also expect the Essence to sound quite a bit different as well (not just better) given that it is designed to be pure Class A / lower power, and really, just a different amp altogether. In my case, I’m avoiding going to a separate pre not only for cost reasons but I also prefer not to add another component with an expensive interconnect and power cord.