Preamp recommendation please..

Hello K302.  As a question, not a challenge, what do you mean by the compromise on transparency?  I though the FS was transparent, but my basis for experience is limited.  I have only had the McIntosh and Airtight preamps.  I have also had the integrated Rogue Audio Tempest, Cary SLI80 and a Rega Osiris.  To me the FS blew them away.  It does have a lot of bass but I get no hiss from anything.  Are you comparing it to solid state?  Maybe I am biased as I prefer tube equipment and look beyond some distortion.  I did just replace the CJ amp with a Transparent Design Audio set of 1570 monoblocks.   Holly smoke, most amazing amps I have had to date.  I did try a solid state amp between, but it was too black between passages.  When it played, I heard so much I could not relax.  I just keep listening to hear more.  It was flooring in that sense.  However the harmonics and decay of instruments with good tube gear is so inviting and fulfilling I just can't leave it.  Anyhow, thanks for any input.  Learning as I go.

Owe, as an aside.  I did spend 2 days in San Francisco's Elite Audio and heard the VAC amps powering Kharma S7 speakers.  The Kharma floored me.  Compared to my Sonus Faber full range Luito, that speaker was transparent.  I never though a 2 way could be so full and rich and complete with information.  I guess that's what you get when you invest $22K.  Ouch, not me.

Hi k320,

If your source budget was slightly higher, how about going straight to the top - Krell Cipher CD/SACD player!  You can message me for details.  It's AWESOME, will make the DVD-5000 sound positively broken.  The Cipher's level of detail is shocking.  The control, weight of everything, percussiveness...everything else sounds soft.

Pared with a CAST preamp you'd have the full setup.  :-)

-Brian