High End SS Preamplifier Ayre, EMM Labs, ML, or Pass

Vitus is top notch, no doubt and bullet proof


maybe I am old fashioned but I have about 6 K hours on my Ref5se..and as yet no real itch to put her out to pasture, after some tube rolling, etc...
Rather than burn a bunch of coin on a different flavor, I am inclined to put a serious HRS base under it...

so as a consequence, I tend to discount the inputs of the hyper-frequent gear changers......

I'm very very happy with my Luxman, but thinking about it, Ayre and Pass ....
To my ears different beasts.

You should listen for yourself because I can't see myself liking both Ayre AND Pass products at the same time.

Another vote for the Ayre KX-R/twenty.  To my ears there is really something special about that pre.  

I have a Clayton S2000, the single chassis version of the M300s. I’ve tried many preamps and the VAC Renaissance 5 is the winner by far...great match indeed.  Best of luck!

I have the Clayton M 300's with a Boulder 1110 preamp.  Love it, but can only compare it to the Naim 272 it replaced.  The Boulder may not be quite as quick but is much more detailed and more than quick enough.  The Boulder also broadened and deepened the soundstage significantly. Very clean sound but doesn't sound like solid state.