Beyond Ayre Pass and Rowland

Inna,
The bass  quality of  an amplifier is so tied to the speaker that you really have to discuss them in tandem as this link is that strongly intertwined. In the example I cited the Rockport Altair is 4 ohms nominal load and drops to roughly 2 ohms in the bass region. I will concede the Krell FPB has excellent control of the Altair woofer and has superior weight, impact and scale. 

However the Absolare Passion is quite accomplished in the bass (by no means is it shabby) with very good texture, articulation and convincing natural bloom and air. So IMO it's a matter of "good" vs exceptionally executed bass performance. I could and would easily live with the Absolare Passion-Altair bass,why? For me it's good enough bass and in virtually every other sonic parameter a sublime amplifier in areas that matter most for my satisfaction. 

Choices and compromises we all must decide individually. If I were to own the Absolare I'd just find a speaker with a less demanding load and thus more compatible with this brilliant amplifier. When I heard the Ypsilon amplifier it was driving Tidal speakers and there were no bass issues that I detected.  Again,  appropriate speaker match. 
Charles, 

Ricred1,
There are many excellent tube preamps in the price range you stated. Here’s a short list. Three I’ve heard and know well.
Atma-Sphere MP-1 MK III
Coincident Statement Line Stage
VAC Signature MK II

Three based on trusted word of mouth.
Shindo Vosne-Romanee
Shindo Masseto 
Melody Pure Black 101d
Charles,

Charles, thank you, I understand now. Both Absolare and Ypsilon seem to be superb performers and with perfect speaker match maybe even more than that.

My friend has convinced me to try the Aavik U300 integrated amp in lieu of changing preamps. He said it’s very close to Absolare. Has anyone ever heard the Aavik?

Ricred1 8-20-2016 10:19 am edt
Charles,
In addition, I really respect the way you respond to threads.

An emphatic +1!

Richard (Ricred1), I have no knowledge of the sonics of the Aavik U300, but personally I would be concerned that its lack of balanced inputs and the low 10K input impedance of its line-level analog inputs would both significantly constrain future choices of source components. And for that matter I would wonder if the unbalanced outputs of your Aeris DAC, which you would have to use with the Aavik, would sound as good as its transformer coupled balanced outputs that I presume you are presently using.

In any event, good luck as you proceed.

Best regards,
-- Al