Sedond, I think you should first decide what type of sound and music you like. What you want to get out of this preamp. I truly believe just throwing out a name of a nice preamp to you is not the road to the ultimate system for YOU. I think synergy(which your tastes are a major, and overlooked factor) is the most important aspect of a system. Ultimately deciding success or failure. Do you want to go to a more tube sound? Add some warmth to the wonderfully clear, crystalline, open sound of the Electrocompaniets? Or not? Also, what is your source? And do you plan to upgrade that later, or are you happy with it? I know about the neutrality and soundstage issues, but there is more. Do you play mostly rock, jazz, classical. There are a lot of great products out there. The trick is to merge one to your tastes and equipment. The one recommendation I do have is to BUY USED. A new $2000 preamp would be one of the weaker links in your impressive system. Buying used will allow you to get a preamp that was originally $3500 to > $6000. So when you upgrade later, it will surely be a component other than this preamp. I always buy a component(presuming it fits in to what I am building towards) that is above the others in my system. That way, it should be the last to be replaced. Last in, last out.
