Upgradying Tube Preamp

Interesting how there are so many 'schools of thought' in this hobby. I've heard of the "speakers are the most important", "source is most important", "preamp is most important", and "amp is most important", though usually those that attend the "amp is most important" school are using SET tube amps. I even know a couple of folks who attend the "cables are most important" school. There are many different paths to audio nirvana.

That said, to me, the preamp is the heart and soul of the system, and has always been the most difficult choice for me. Possibly because I am looking not only for specific sound qualities, but also there are many ergonomic or functional issues involved. Unlike an amp, which basically just turns on and off, a preamp has many more functioning duties. So it is more difficult for me to find a preamp that sounds the way I want it to, and to have all of the features that I am looking for, than to find an amp that I enjoy.

Of course with all of that being said, what are you trying to accomplish here? Are you unhappy with the sound of your current system? Or do you just have some extra cash and are looking to spend it on audio gear? If you are unhappy with the sound, are you looking for more resolution or more musicality? What speakers are you using and how big is your room? How loud do you normally listen at? Perhaps if we knew more of what you were trying to accomplish, it would help us to make more informed recommendations.

You most definately need to upgrade your preamp, I have owned the same AES preamp and was dissapointed with its sonics. In fact it spent the least amount of time before selling it.

I agree with Jmcgrogan2. The linestage in my experience is the most critical piece of electronics in the system. In the past few decade I have had the privilege of trying out a mumber of Phono preamps, linestages and power amps. There were a number of phono stages and power amps that I could have lived with, but only two linestages were acceptable. The others had such strong colorations that I was unable to ignore them. Not so with the phono preamps or power amps. They all have colorations but they were not as intrusive.

I haven't heard the AE-3 but I spent a couple weeks with its big brother the Cary SLP-95, and while the Cary wasn't a bad sounding preamp it did have some strong character, I.e . Colorations. There are certainly more neutral linestages on the market.

I agree wholeheartedly with Jmcgrogan2 the preamp is the heart of a system. A preamp can hold back or bring your system to a different level.

Of course all things in the chain are important, but without a good preamp your system won't shine.

Your preamp has nice tone, but doesn't have the resolution for your other components to open up and show what they are capable of, IMHO