What I always find a disadvantage , is that when you change out 3 items at once , speakers/poweramps/preamp you never really know what changed the sound for the better or worse .
If you change one at a time over an extended time period you get to know each component better , at least that's how I try to do it .
Funny what you said about the kondo pre , I heard the M1000 once or twice and kind of had the same impression voluptuous /colourfull but not exactly neutral
You are right. But in my case, I just wanted a whole new direction, nothing to do with the previous sonic signature. I can't say my new system will be completely better than my previous one, I just want a change for the sake of it. Maybe it's like when you are in heaven for too long, you get bored and want to go down to earth