Still searching for the perfect preamp.
I've tried:
1) Pass XP-30: Lovely on classical music, but in my system bass is too thick and slow and there is no air around instruments (probably due to too much warmth).
2) Pass XP-10: Works well overall but a little too thin sounding in upper midrange/treble to keep me satisfied long term.
3) ARC Ref 5: Beautiful sounding and neutral. Maybe because it doesn't have deep bass, but acoustic bass is articulate. Instruments are nicely separated with sense of air around them. Unfortunately it's not transparent enough for my tastes (haven't heard tubes that sound natural on orchestral instruments).
4) Lamm L2 Ref: Beautiful midrange. In my system the bass is not articulate.
5) Ayre KX-R: Outstanding preamp with cleanest signal I've ever heard but very lean in my system and a little cold sounding. Highs were exciting but could get fatiguing after a while.
At this point the only other preamp I can think of is the CR GAT but I know it's tubes and single ended (I prefer balanced due to investment in pricey PAD XLR cables).
Any thoughts?
I've tried:
1) Pass XP-30: Lovely on classical music, but in my system bass is too thick and slow and there is no air around instruments (probably due to too much warmth).
2) Pass XP-10: Works well overall but a little too thin sounding in upper midrange/treble to keep me satisfied long term.
3) ARC Ref 5: Beautiful sounding and neutral. Maybe because it doesn't have deep bass, but acoustic bass is articulate. Instruments are nicely separated with sense of air around them. Unfortunately it's not transparent enough for my tastes (haven't heard tubes that sound natural on orchestral instruments).
4) Lamm L2 Ref: Beautiful midrange. In my system the bass is not articulate.
5) Ayre KX-R: Outstanding preamp with cleanest signal I've ever heard but very lean in my system and a little cold sounding. Highs were exciting but could get fatiguing after a while.
At this point the only other preamp I can think of is the CR GAT but I know it's tubes and single ended (I prefer balanced due to investment in pricey PAD XLR cables).
Any thoughts?