Parasound vs Coda

One of the reasons I asked is if anything for a sanity check, and certainly would prefer not to make a sideways move at significant expense! I rarely get the itch but when it bites, it bites.

The two other areas outside amplifiers are to try a tube pre or add a pair of REL/Rythmic subs. There are many recommended options on the tube pre side that aren't crazy expensive and worth trying out at the very least to see how I like it.

The adventure continues.

I second the tube preamp. I run solid state amps - Pass X250.5, LSa Voyager GAN, and Ampzilla monoblocks - into tube preamps. The Aric Audio Motherlode is the best of the bunch. The Black Ice hybrid is damn good as is the Audio GD tube preamp. Switching to tube preamp seems like a bang for the buck move.

I third a tube preamp. Aric would be nice. In addition to tube rolling, you could add it in -- or not -- as desired. I very much enjoy having four components that all mix and match: Amps (tube and class A ss) and Preamps (tube and ss). A lot of variety possible all on one audio rack.

I've been trying to learn as much about the tube side as possible for a while, but have a long way to go especially since the options plus tube rolling make for nearly infinite choices. Almost headswimming as a tube noob!

Aric, Allnic, Zeto, Modwright, and others are often mentioned and recommended. I really like detail, clarity, works with all genres, but with some warmth and bloom.

I absolutely recommend going to a tube preamp. I have owned Pass preamps… I now own Audio Research… no contest in my mind… or Presto, Conrad Johnson, there are others as well.