Aesthetic Calypso or CJ Et3 or Primaluna Dialogue 3

audioconnection-
Accepted audio sonics often defy  electronics 101 rules in one way or another.

You plumb your components with specific cable and other seemingly ridiculous items don't you?

So just reply directly to the OP with your all knowing audio wisdom and save the condescending remarks for somewhere else-grow up.

Ive not heard the Calypso but have auditioned the other 2 in my system. If your a rocker then the single tube CJ would be my pick given only those 2 choices.   

A general guideline when pairing a tube preamp with a SS power amp is that the amp's input impedance needs to be at least 10x of the preamp's output impedance. To be safer with the match, use 20x because at specific frequencies, the preamp's output impedance may be even higher than it's nominal value.

Pass Labs xa30.5 input impedance - 15k ohms unbalanced

Primaluna Dialogue 3 - 2500 ohms - Obviously, this preamp should be avoided.

Aesthetix Calypso - 1k ohms - Should be a match, but to be absolutely sure verify that it doesn't rise greatly at any frequency.

CJ Et3 - 100 ohms - Excellent match

TY- tls49
Excellent advice.

frozentundra-

good to see you in this new year!  The CJ ACT2 Series2 and ET-3SE are going to be on par w/ one another. The ET-3SE is  a tough competitor because of the teflon caps (SE version only).  Otherwise the ACT2 will trump a non-SE ET-3.

At this level of performance, I would audition both CJ and Aesthetix.
I was disappointed w/ the Treo/Quattro. These speakers do not present like a Thiel, especially, the CS 2.4, 2.7 or 3.7 models.  The "2" and "3" series from Vandersteen are much closer but do not image nor sound as timbral.

Jeff, where are you  located?