newbie need help on decision on buying an amp

I'm not familiar with your amps, but I'm quite familiar with the Vandsersteen 3a's. They need more power period! Vandersteen audio suggests between 100-200 watts for this speaker. I have ran them with 60 watt tube amplifiers, but have found the bass to be a bit lacking. I have also owned a McCormack DNA-1 while it did drive the 3a's quite nicely, I didn't consider it liquid and tube sounding. But then how could it be? It is not a tube amp.

The Krell pre is a mismatch for a tube amp, I would think your ears got to be bleeding because of the harshness on the highs. It is not a good idea to have a solid state pre combined with a tube amp. If you insist on using solid state then you might try using a tube pre and a solid state amp. Personally I think everyone should run a tube pre and a tube amp.

Go the Rogue route.

There is nothing wrong with Solid State pre. and tube amps. Just do your homework and match inpedance.

If your budget will permit, I'd try the Berning ZH270. It will drive your speakers very well and has the some of the best sonics at any price. Your Vandersteen 3A's will literally sing like songbirds!!

Good Luck,
Chris

While I have never owned the 3's, I have owned 2 pairs of the model 2 speakers.
I did once drive them with a 30 watt tube amp, but this was in a small (12x15) room. When I moved them into a 12x26 room, the amp did not have enough power. Bass and highs were rolled off and when I push the amp too hard, the sound would distort and soundstage would collapse.
That said, the 3's need more power than the 2's. If you want tubes and they sound good with tubes, I suggest a pair of the Quicksilver Silver 90 monoblocks. You will have to hunt or wait for these to come up for sale, but you will see them from time to time.