looking for ideas on a tube pre amp

Hi Jeff99,

Exactly what do you mean when you say  "...give my listening room a breath of fresh air"  what is missing in your original set up,  what are you attempting to rectify? More Detail, Depth of Soundstage, More Bass...

I suspect that your Magnepan 20.1s are not getting enough power. I believe they are a better speaker than the Focals. 

I have my magnepans sounding fabulous nothing is missing over the years I have tried multiple amps and other components and am very happy with the current set up. I have also had other focal speakers including 1038 be 918 profile L&R utopia BEs another speaker that has past through is the Sonus faber Elipsa Se. None have been better than my Magnepans. I never expected the Sopras 3s to be better just different (the breath of fresh air) hence wanting to try a tube pre with them the sopras are fantastic speakers and I think a tube pre would have great synergy with them I almost never stay within my budget when I start looking for components the 2500 is just to show I don't want to spend a fortune to try a pre I would also buy used so if I didn't like it I would simply sell it. 

What is it with you guys who feel you have to throw ever more money at something thinking it just can't be any good if I don't drop $2500 on a preamp or $35,000 on a pair of speakers?  Look into a VTA SP14 (tubes4hifi.com) with an Aikido circuit.  You can build it for less than $1000.  For a reasonable amount more, they'll build it your spec.  Get it with stepped attenuators and balanced outputs if you like.   Then take the $1000 you saved and go to some concerts or buy some records.

You could REALLY save yourself a boatload by buying Aikido circuit boards, power supply, etc and build it all from scratch.  Glassware Audio sells most of what you need.  You can build a preamp equal to that $5000 name brand for 1/10th as much.  But then you wouldn't be able to sneer at the rest of us who don't drop that kind of bread, would you?

You might consider the new DECWARE ZEN TRIODE PREAMP (ZPTPRE)...  Up to 3 fully balanced inputs, dual mono construction, guaranteed for LIFE!, starting out at under $2K, and handmade with point to point wiring right here in the good old USA.  Mine has all available options and is shipping this week.  If it sounds ½ as good as my DECWARE headphone amp I'll be just ecstatic.

Good Afternoon Jeff,
Sorry -  I was mistaken and assumed that there may be an issue with your original set up, thank you for clarifying for me. That being said I would agree with your assessment to check out the Atma-sphere. Its a product that has always been on my short list, yet never made the rotation.

"I almost never stay within my budget when I start looking for components"
- I love the honesty-

Generally I have favored Sonus Fabers over the Focals, both older models, and have watched Rogue Audio put a hurting on ARC. As far as BAT, a solid company, but I have a suspicion that Atma - sphere will give you more bang for the buck. Have Fun