Yes I expected that answer. Aesthetix have been precise and correct in my communication with them over the last 15 years. Maybe a signature or eclipse (if it exists) Calypso would float your boat. Even if Callisto is better. I upgraded the Io to partial Eclipse. Was expensive and at first i was disappointed. Glenn at A toldxme to wait. He was right. After 100 - 150 hours I became convinced, yes this is a major step up! Later I've never looked back.
I would have followed their advice regarding Callisto too, if I had the shelf space. My Io already has 3 big tube boxes and the C is 2 or 3 more. Together with my tube amps they already warm up our living room enough. So I compromised buying used a one-box preamp, Einstein The tube mk 2. I found out, testing preamps, that the preamp has to be very good indeed, to improve the signal direct from the Io. Maybe the case with Romulus too. The Einstein passes the test though it has s-state transformers that give a little bit of minus to the sound to, my ears, even though it gives more body, presence etc than Io direct to amp. I suspect the Callisto and e g the Atmasphere Mp1 would be even better but I have never heard them.
I would have followed their advice regarding Callisto too, if I had the shelf space. My Io already has 3 big tube boxes and the C is 2 or 3 more. Together with my tube amps they already warm up our living room enough. So I compromised buying used a one-box preamp, Einstein The tube mk 2. I found out, testing preamps, that the preamp has to be very good indeed, to improve the signal direct from the Io. Maybe the case with Romulus too. The Einstein passes the test though it has s-state transformers that give a little bit of minus to the sound to, my ears, even though it gives more body, presence etc than Io direct to amp. I suspect the Callisto and e g the Atmasphere Mp1 would be even better but I have never heard them.