Transistor Preamp that sounds like a Tube Preamp?

I was reading this about the Shino Latours and noticed I have my Ohm 5's set up in a very similar shaped room for a very similar listening configuration.

http://www.sixmoons.com/industryfeatures/forbidden/forbidden_5.html

The Shindos look great and appear horn loaded to match well with SET tube front-ends, but the Ohms (made in Brooklyn, NY) are ~ 1/10th the cost.

I would not consider them good matches for most tube amps (Atmasphere would be an interesting option to try though). A tube pre-amp would work fine if needed.

Still I would love to put them in a contest with the gorgeous Shindos if for no reason other than to listen for a performance/"bloom" difference that justifies the cost.

Mapman, from what I have heard, you will be sorry, but yes, they are too expensive for me.

Maybe. Though I am very interested, I haven't heard any top notch horn designs in quite a while.

We're certainly talking about two radically different speaker designs being applied to similar ends in similar rooms.

Asa:
My room is 13' wide, 19' long, and 9' high. Well damped with leather furniture, carpet, and drywall - not overly reflective. Listen mostly to classical at moderate volume.

Source is the latest Marantz SA-7 SACD player.

Pre is Supratek's Cabernet Dual (Mullard rectifier, RCA regulators, Sylvania Bad Boy 6SN7s, TJ 101Ds).

Amps are Wyetech Sapphire monos - 18wpc parallel SET, no feedback (Tungsol 6900s driving TJ 300B mesh-plates).

Speakers are B&W Signature 805 monitors on good stands (8-ohm nominal not dropping below 5 ohms, first-order cross to tweeter, fairly easy to drive). REL sub fills in the bottom octave. B&Ws are on the short wall 5' into the room toed in.

Power conditioner is Running Springs' Haley, power cords are Dream State, ICs are Oritek, speaker cable is Tekline's best bi-wired.

Most obvious deficiency here would be the speakers. I think Living Voice or Audionotes would offer a more optimal pairing... Have you heard Reference 3A's Grand Veena??

But then again, am I wasting my time with a digital only front-end??

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Fla asked:
"But then again, am I wasting my time with a digital only front-end??"

I don't think so. The Marantz is very good at its price point, but there's much more to be gained, but at a cost.

I agree with your view toward upgrading speakers next, but after that you need to really consider upgrading your digital source.

As for going into vinyl, if you've already got a sizeable collection, then I say, "Go for it." I've got over 1000 LPs and got seriously back into vinyl a year or so ago; however, the addition of my Playback Designs MPS-5 has rendered my substantial CD collection almost totally marvelous. It's amazing how much better those Redbook CDs can sound it a top-echelon CD/SACD player.

Given a choice, vinyl used to be my first choice for a new recording purchase. Now, I'm pretty much indifferent, with SACD getting the nod, usually because they tend to cost less than top quality vinyl costs. The improvement in my CDs is through the roof with the PD.

Dave