PRE_AMP for ATC- actives??

Tube pres have a reputation regarding bloom which is no longer their exclusive domain. SS pres CAN provide better flexibility. For instance, at a much lower price you CAN get remote control of volume, balance, input selection AND polarity control. Polarity is often miscalled "phase". Correcting phase is essential to listening enjoyment as it removes veils from the music. Also, you are more likely to get a fully balanced design, HT pass through, and of course no loss of sonics due to tube slowly losing their magic. A great choice would be PS Audio Gain Cell preamp- GCP. They don't come up often. Also heck PS website classifieds, or Audio Asylum

Doshi Preamps work great with these speakers. I own a pair of ATC SCM 20-2 speakers, and it is a special combo.

Assuming you have an excellent two channel source already then EMMLabs gear seems popular with ATC's - any chance you could audition a Switchman?

This would allow you to select any combinations of analog signals. Only issue is that it is not 7.2....so you would inevitably be 3 channels short for full 7.2! However, some people use this just for two channel.

Also have you considered a tube CD player such as a Wadia?

I can't help more because SS seems to work fine for me and i just don't have the experience. I currently have an acoustically treated and carpeted room - it works fine with response set flat. However, I can imagine what you mean about softening the sound. Previsouly I had ATC's in a large room with wooden floors (Gymnaisum and also a large open plan living room) and it was definitely bright/harsh sounding within such a reflective environment...my solution, at that time, was a -3db EQ filter at 4 Khz, as the wife just adored the wooden floors and carpets were NOT an option.

Good Luck! - It would also be nice to see your system pics?

I have heard that the ATC because of their built in amps that only certain PRe's will work with them? does that make sense and what are the guidelines??

Pretty much anything works as far as I know....provided it is XLR balanced. If you use an RCA only preamp then there is a small risk that you can't play them as loud as they can go before the pre-amp runs out of juice.