Your speakers are ideal to try tube amps, that complicates your options doesn't it.
I had an older McIntosh SS pair: Amp: MC2250 (tested accurate to 305 wpc); Pre-Amp: C28
I sold them, went to McIntosh Tube Tuner/Preamp mx110z; Cayin Integrated Tube Amp A88T.
Prior SS pair were essentially invisible. I prefer the tube units, as do all my audiophile friends and others less involved with musical reproduction variations.
My prior TT had an optional built-in phono preamp, and surprisingly I preferred it to the C28's phono.
Changing to mx110z McIntosh Tube tuner/preamp, I definitely prefer/love it's phono. My first MC cartridge, I chose to use a SUT to retain the use of the mx110z's phono stage.
Your C48 Preamp is certainly full of inputs, including digital (I know nothing about digital), and features galore, it would be hard to part with, but ...
Prior to my change, I had shootouts between SS 305 wpc; 35 wpc tube receiver; 30 wpc tube mono-blocks. (3 sets speaker wires to banana plugs at speakers). The tube mono-blocks always won. Same listening sessions, same music, LP always beat CD, Reel to Reel tape always beat LP.
I had an older McIntosh SS pair: Amp: MC2250 (tested accurate to 305 wpc); Pre-Amp: C28
I sold them, went to McIntosh Tube Tuner/Preamp mx110z; Cayin Integrated Tube Amp A88T.
Prior SS pair were essentially invisible. I prefer the tube units, as do all my audiophile friends and others less involved with musical reproduction variations.
My prior TT had an optional built-in phono preamp, and surprisingly I preferred it to the C28's phono.
Changing to mx110z McIntosh Tube tuner/preamp, I definitely prefer/love it's phono. My first MC cartridge, I chose to use a SUT to retain the use of the mx110z's phono stage.
Your C48 Preamp is certainly full of inputs, including digital (I know nothing about digital), and features galore, it would be hard to part with, but ...
Prior to my change, I had shootouts between SS 305 wpc; 35 wpc tube receiver; 30 wpc tube mono-blocks. (3 sets speaker wires to banana plugs at speakers). The tube mono-blocks always won. Same listening sessions, same music, LP always beat CD, Reel to Reel tape always beat LP.