Short List of Amps I prefer over the Pass Labs XA25 or INT 25

too fuzzy. this is what  Jeff Fischel answered on my question on the distortion: 

"CONRAD-JOHNSON preamps are designed for optimal sonic performance , yet this is not always reflected in the specifications of distortion." 

well, we know CJ amps and preams sound well,where from comes this high distortion, or can it be good high distortion or CJ amps sound good despite high distortion (or because of that)? 

i have three alternatives for a preamp for my Cherry Megaschino
(now I am using $650 class A SS Nuprime HPA 9 headphone amp/pre which is not really bad, still might be worth to look for a replacement) : 

Pass Labs XP-12
Conrad Johnson ET6, and
Conrad Johnson ET7 

all of them have some promo, Pass is a demo unit. 
Did some of you guys compare XP-12 with a CJ prse, or ET6 with ET7 
(ET7 costs double of ET6!)? 


 

I have the xa25 paired with a cj preamp! Great match as the xa25 has a sunny disposition. Keep in mind you need to have amp on for over two hrs before you hear all the juicy traits!🐵

You turn yours off?

RIAA, please clarify your position; are you simultaneously ridiculing an audio engineering company and two different US geographic regions? Why are you all butt hurt that others might actually enjoy Rogue gear? I sure hope you are just joking; if so please disregard this message; if not, well that’s just pretty sad all around bro. 

response to the earlier post. i was also considering pass xa25 (according to reviews it gives neutral tuby sound) but i think made a correct decision because this amp would not drive well my thiel cs6 speakers. i am very staisfied with megaschino so far. perhaps, the overall performance might further be improved by replacing the nuprime hpa 9 with one of the preamps from my list, though i have no idea of how much it might really be improved. pha 9 is not bad and the cost of the replacement would be very considerable. both, pass labs and conrad johnson recommend to leave their stuff on all the time, which i do not do in my current settings.