Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit

@decooney  I was hoping to embed my response into your comprehensive post but not sure how to do it so ill try my best to answer.

I agree that I have received many great ideas for which I am thankful and take seriously.

I have a PS Audio Premiere power plant. Not sure I hear an improvement with it but I will make sure to route the preamp through it (right now it goes directly to the wall)

I have recently purchased a Tesla tube that sounds fantastic. Its a bit microphonic when I tap on it or change volume. But I dont believe it is an issue when listening to music. There is no hiss.

My buddy has a tube tester and is kind enough to test when ever I need. so that is not an issue. I feel very lucky as this guy is very knowledgeable.

I have 2 dedicated lines to my hifi equipment that I personally ran. I remember a buddy came over with some kind of noise tester but I dont remember what the results were.

Thank you for your input. It is much appreciated and want to make sure that I personally respond to the suggestions. I was at CAF this weekend and it was a ball. If anyone has the chance, do it.

@jimbones wow, sounds like you have all the bases covered and then some, and access to capable people around you to test things out. Very nice.

The only reason I commented was the original post was the possibility of a solid state preamp instead of tube. Last year I thought I’d try something similar, going in reverse of where I came from over a few decades. While it was in interesting exercise to re-validate history. and I enjoy a Class A preamp/amp periodically, I usually go back to my all tube preamp and tube amps system to experience what it does in its own unique way - for those more engaged listening sessions. 

Keep us posted on how the new tube testing goes and wether the original inquiry is solved yet or not.  I’ll be sharing this thread with a few friends doing something similar as you, going through all of the exact same checks and such. Enjoy!  

@decooney I should have stated that the main complaint for my system is that the sound gets congested when playing classical music. It sounds flat. I need a open and transparent with high dynamic range. Thanks for following this.

@jimbones does your Nad M23 amplifier mentioned in your original post hold up to that classical music challenge for you?

I replaced an ARC Ref. 3 preamp with a Pass XP-30, which listed for $16K but I found a used one for $6K. Mine is three-units, one for power and the other two for each channel. However, they sell a two-unit XP-22  for about $10K that I have read is damn close to the XP-30.

First, let me say I loved my ARC Ref 3. It was a serious tube preamp in that it didn't have the over-blown bloom I've heard in other ARC preamps. I owned an LS 22 which sounded rich and wonderful to me at first. The midrange bloom seduced me. After owning it for a while, I realized that bloom obscured weak bass and somewhat shrill treble. The Ref 3 had all the seduction of the LS 22, but everything was balanced and nothing was weak or shrill. The reason I sold it was that I simply could not deal with changng tubes all the time. 

As much as I loved the Ref. 3, I have to say the Pass XP-30 is an improvement. It has clarity and transparency I haven't heard in any other preaImp. I might say that it disappears and lets the music come through unscathed. I hear my turntable and amp, but the preamp has no signature but clarity. I would highly recommend Pass.