May I humbly agree with you and the other guys, the preamp should go first, but IMO it's a neck-and-neck race with the CD player.
Never mind balanced cables for now, get a good equipment match first. BTW, you will be amazed at the difference a source upgrade makes.
I would be curious to hear how a Bryston .5 worked with a Krell amp. Might tame it or just lose it.
