New to Preamp - Preamp suggestion around 10k

https://tmraudio.com/components/preamplifiers/luxman-c-900u-stereo-preamplifier-c900u-remote/

TMR has the Luxman C 900u.  I purchased same unit from them months ago.

I own 2 LA-4 pre-amps from Benchmark Audio and Love them. Considerably cheaper than 10K. With remote (metal) about 3K     free shipping, 30 day trial period, 5 year warranty, USA upstate NY, been around for ages   Rory is excellent to deal with.  did I mention balanced     What do you have to lose?    A human always answers the phone and promptly too.  Robert TN

@cming0038. Thanks for clarifying that you have top of the range Stax equipment.

To be frank, I don't think what you are trying to do makes sense. The only thing the bypass function on the 8000 does is to remove the volume control from the circuit. So your signal will still be going through all of the 8000s amplification circuitry and all you will be doing is to precondition the signal by putting it through a preamp before you input it to the 8000.

I don't think that will radically alter the sonic character of the 8000 though that can only be known by trying it, I suppose.

Though I rarely recommend buying two of anything, you might be better investing in an alternative setup with a top quality pair of dynamic headphones. You may have done that already, but you'd description of what you want to change in the Stax's is, to me, fairly reflective of the basic differences in character between electrostatic and dynamic designs.

I haven't heard it myself, but am interested in knowing how many would consider a BAT VK-80 to have a slight bit of warmth the OP is inquiring about.

Also - don’t know how you feel about "Stax Mafia" / Kevin Gilmore electrostatic amp designs, but you might consider snagging a KGST (cheaper), KGGG (more expensive), or BHSE (Headamp, more expensive) when they come up on the used market. Just avoid any Chinese builds and stick to known builders.

Even the T-8000 is reportedly significantly underpowered compared to the Gilmore designs. I admittedly listen pretty loud, and have heard the Stax 727 absolutely fall apart, to mush, as I raised volume. You won’t get good dynamics and solid imaging if it’s going that way, and a more powerful amp would have a much bigger impact than adding the preamp in that case. The Mafia’s all-solid-state deigns (KGSShv, Carbon) can be a bit on the leaner and brighter side, which I definitely don’t prefer, but their tube hybrid designs really pull it together for my tastes.

In particular I find the KGST a nice pairing with L700 and 009 without breaking the bank.

• KGST - Kevin Gilmore Single Triode, using 6S4A tubes. It's the simplest amp in this lineup.
• KGGG - Kevin Gilmore Grounded Grid (EL34 driven with grounded grid)
• KGSShv - Kevin Gilmore Solid State, High Voltage version
• Carbon - Modified & improved KGSShv with Silicon Carbide FET output transistors
• BHSE - Blue Hawaii was Kevin’s first attempt to replicate Stax’s legendary T2 amplifier before he had access to its circuit diagram. Her scribbled out this design on a cocktail napkin while drinking Blue Hawaii’s on vacation lol. The "SE" indicates Headamp’s (Justin Wilson) improved and modified version.