Jeff Rowland

Zd542,

Any suggestions on preamps I should listen to? I had a Parasound JC2 BP and to my ears it degraded the sound when compared to the PS Audio DSD I had at the time. The Bricasti M1 sounds much better direct than the DSD.

Why do you think you need a preamp?

I don't know if I need a preamp. I'm looking for the next step forward.

Forward to what? Your system is at a point where you need a clearly defined vision of what you are trying to accomplish. What is that vision?

"The Bricasti M1 sounds much better direct than the DSD."

That's your reference, so whatever you do, you'll need to compare it so you don't make a backwards move. A preamp is a very personal choice. So whatever is recommended, by me or anyone else, needs to be followed up with a demo. I really can't stress that enough. A preamp is the one component you really can't afford to mess up. Also consider that you have good sound now, going direct with your dac. When you already have good sound, its much easier to make a mistake than an improvement.

I'll start off with 2 recommendations. For solid state, I would look at an Ayre K-5, and for tubes, an Aesthetix Calypso. Those 2 pieces do everything right, and work well with a wide variety of components. Either should go very well with your Rowland.