For the amps I would do Pass Labs.
For the preamp I would go with tubes- that is if you want to reduce that 'leanness' which is a common complaint with solid state.
We make balanced tube preamps, so does BAT, ARC and Aesthetix and there are a few others. IMO/IME the ARCs tend to be a bit leaner but you may still want to do an audition.
The Pass is balanced of course, so it can take advantage of a balanced input. The reason to go balanced is that if it is done correctly, there is no going back to single-ended because if its done right, the interconnect cables no longer editorialize on the sound. Balanced lines were created for this very reason. To really take advantage of this capability though, the preamp and amp should support the balanced standard. The Pass Labs does, as does the BAT and our stuff but the ARC and Aesthetix do not, which means you may have to try different cables with them to optimize the playback.
Good luck!
For the preamp I would go with tubes- that is if you want to reduce that 'leanness' which is a common complaint with solid state.
We make balanced tube preamps, so does BAT, ARC and Aesthetix and there are a few others. IMO/IME the ARCs tend to be a bit leaner but you may still want to do an audition.
The Pass is balanced of course, so it can take advantage of a balanced input. The reason to go balanced is that if it is done correctly, there is no going back to single-ended because if its done right, the interconnect cables no longer editorialize on the sound. Balanced lines were created for this very reason. To really take advantage of this capability though, the preamp and amp should support the balanced standard. The Pass Labs does, as does the BAT and our stuff but the ARC and Aesthetix do not, which means you may have to try different cables with them to optimize the playback.
Good luck!