AA Capitole Mk II - what the evaluaions brought?

first I would like to say that great active linestages are rare. I have found the Wyetech Jade, $3800 and Opal, $7500 to be clearly the best there is for 2 channel active preamps. if you search hard enough one can find other top notch preamps as well. I would describe the sound improves in the areas of weight and body when adding a great preamp to the chain. I feel the preamp fills in all the tiny gaps in the music which in turn gives you a more complete sound. thats not to say that running the Capitole direct is not musical, just that I have heard better with the proper preamp in the system. I have not yet tried running the Dac in the Capitole MK2 with an outboard Transport, but I would say that again a great transport like the Accustic Arts drive 1, $3500 would be better. at this point it would be better to purchase the Audio Aero Dac instead of the player.

Artistic,I know what you're describing, the sound was different with a linestage, just not better to my ear. More is not necessarily better, and I don't buy, from my experience, that a linestage is necessary for what it "adds". What it added was a sense of hi-fi, for want of a better term, again great hi-fi, but hi-fi nonetheless. And if hi-fi is the goal, so be it. But the sense of air, space between the notes and instrumental palpability is sacrificed with this "filler", to my ear, stepping ever so slightly away from what live acoustic music sounds like to me. Perhaps in a differently configured system I'd be more enamored, but in my present setup, fully well acknowledging what you're describing, my personal preference is direct, and so far that seems to be the case with most if not all owners I know(that aren't dealers).The pre-amps I tried weren't to shabby- CTC Blowtorch (18K), AR REF II (11K), Klyne series 7 (6K), and a borrowed Cello Pallette. Amps are Tenor 75 WI, speakers Rockport Antares. Perhaps when I get the MKII I'll give a linestage a whirl again. Sutts thanx for your transport and passive pre findings.

yes Mes I see your point. I would say in some systems running direct may be the preferred way to go, but when everything is right (including top interconnects, and power cords) and the system synergy is good, I much prefer an active linestage for what it brings to the sound.

Mes, have you tried using the volume control of your Tenor 75 WI? How does it compare to the AA's?

Jacpiii- Yes, and in fact I preferred that to any linestage I tried, very nice. However, direct sounds better to me for the aforementioned reasons, and a sense of body without sacrificing detail that I prefer. Probably no rights or wrongs here, merely personal preference. But thus far, direct sounds more like real music, the others more hi-fi, although astounding hi-fi nonetheless.