Tube Pre-amp for Levinson 432

I had the ML 432 and used it with the 380s for three years, then picked up the BAT 51se. It was night and day the BAT is just that much better, way, way more dynamic from the highs right down to the bass. IMHO the BAT brings out the best of the Levinson; the ML 380s just sounded compress when paired with the BAT. So did my ML 37/360s combo. You can’t go wrong with the BAT & ML 432 combo.

I am auditioning a Mcintosh C-2200 with my Levinson 432 and am somewhat pleased with the sound. I wonder what changes I could expect if I substituted a Bat31se. The Mcintosh has stock tubes and the speakers are Wilson Sophia 2's. Auditioning the Bat would be difficult-no local dealers.

You know, hyper-detail is not necessarily synergy.

I think that were you to try a 326s you would give up the tube idea. I just replaced a Ref 3 with the 326s and I can't think of one thing that the Ref 3 does better. The 326s is amazing and totally unexpected by me. Also you can see the value in the ML pre whereas the ARC seems grossly overpriced. Just my opinion but I've owned a lot of gear including lately the CJ ART and ACT 2. The 326s will be around a while in my system.