UPGRADE TIME!! Preamp vs. Speakers???

I can't comment on the difference for the speaker upgrade, but I can comment on adding a 740P to my system.   I used both  a Pass XP10 and Hegel P20 with my Pass X250.8 amp before getting a 740P preamp and the enjoyment of my system jumped up significantly.   More so than I would have imagined considering the other two preamps are great for their MSRPs.   If you factor in the MSRP of the 740P and the fact that my DAC and many others sound great direct, the $$ spent for the preamp (basically just a volume control in my case) may not be the best value.   But in relative terms to upgrades I've had in my system with respect to electronics and pricey cables, the 740P certainly was worth the price.    The depth and space around the instruments and vocals with the 740P in the system is pretty impressive and I know I would greatly miss it.

I will concur w/ ddafoe-

the pre-amp is the "heart" of any system and one should not skimp/cheap-out on this piece of gear.

It is interesting to read about mating a Simaudio product w/
Pass Labs.

Preamp. Sell the cables and buy the speakers on the credit card.

Wolf: that would definatly be THE most COST EFFECTIVE answer..:)

My Dac is capable of acting as a "preamp" w/ vol and balance controls. But my Sim has a definiant sound improvement.

I also like that the 740 has a much finer DB volume control and the cool metal remote, could be used as a weapon if necissary.

Hard to say which of the two will have more impact in your system, but I generally like to start with upgrading the speaker first, because I find it's generally easier to match an amp / preamp to your speaker, than the other way around.

And as others have mentioned, you typically get the most bang-for-buck with the speaker, so might as well pick your ideal speaker, and build the rest of the system around that.