Suggestions on Balanced Pre-Amp for Claytons

A Clayton Pre-amp could be a consideration, but it also could lend to a leaner, dry sound verses using a tube based preamplifier for some warmth and musicality. I've seen more references of Clayton amps being used with tubes for realistic music reproduction than a SS pre. I don't see alot of SS pre's getting musical recognition without coloration regularly except the MBL 6010D, Gryphon Mirage, or Krell Evolution Two and look at their price points. From a price performance ratio it will be interesting to hear how the Clayton sounds relative to it's price as compared to tube pre-amps. The recent review of the 200's in positive feedback used a Cary 05.

Shindo Vosne-Romanee has XLR outputs. No remote and definitely no black finish option.

If you go with a balanced preamp, it will help if it supports the low impedance (600 ohm) balanced line standard. This will reduce the effects of the interconnect cable dramatically, and free you to have the cables as long as you want.

There are very few tube preamps that support this standard (without frequency response problems). The traditional way that tubes have driven 600 ohms in the past is with an output transformer, but the transformer can be a barrier to transparency. Direct-coupling is the only way I know to get around this.

Has anyone had an opportunity to audition and compare the new M200 monoblocks to the M100 monoblocks or even the M300s? The M100s were and still are very viable SS amps that are very musical with great "high definition" reality sound and stage.

There is a review in Positive Feedback addressing the new 200's, which were considered an improvement. The 300's were recognized as part of a best room award at 2007 RMAF. 300's have larger power supply and bigger capacitors for even better resolution and dynamic detail.