Next upgrade, DartZeel or Ayre

There are a record numbers of super high end pre amps out there. Ayre KX-R, BAT REX, Conrad Johnson ACT 3, VTL 7.5 II, etc. among all, Ayre probably has the most plain look and smallest physical size.

Since I already own BAT 150SE (& 75SE, still debating which one to keep due to heat), will I be better off getting a BAT pre amp? I can't afford REX, but I can get a 52SE now. However, BAT pre seems to generate polarized opinions and many prefer ARC Ref 3 over 52SE.

I own the Darts and they are the best I've heard yet. The only drawback is precisely what you originally pointed out...power rating. So really inefficient speakers that need a lot of juice are out. This is not to say they are weaklings,,,any speaker with average sensitivity is fine but some like the YG Acoustics etc,,..you will need more. Strengths: bass slam far better than one thinks, great detail and transparency yet there is a certain sweetness to it kinda like tubes but different. Ayres i have auditioned, though in a system I am not completely familiar with though had heard them with speakers I've had some idea before). again great transparency but lacks the sweetness of the darts, the beauty of tonal color thing...however perhaps do provide more of the air thing. Both are really excellent.

I have heard the new Ayre monoblocks and they sounded awesome. Some of the best solid state I have heard. The dynamics were excellent, transparance & soundstage were wonderful, and it was the cheaper Ayre preamp being used. Take a look at the design. Just beautiful. For solid state, they may be the way to go.

I heard Ayre MX-R driven directly by Nagra cdplayer on Guarneri Memento and that system was really bad. I couldn't even hear tape hiss on Living stereo SACD-s, syrupy midrange and hard upper mid...

Henryhk, I know DartZeel is very very good and super musical for a solid state. but I am a tube addict and I don't think DartZeel can match an all tube system, or am I wrong? I know someone sold off his BAT 75SE to get DartZeel to drive his Evolution Acoustic; I don't know his reason for doing so, maybe for sound, for convenience, or Jonathan talked him into using DartZeel to drive EA since he imports both? what ever the reason, I am just not 100% convinced DartZeel combo can sound as musical as an all tube system and I need someone who moved to DartZeel after owning tubes to hit me on the head and tell me to forget about tubes.

Teddy bear, I know Ayre can sound sterile and cold at times if not fully warm up. I heard the combo in dealer as I mentioned. though very clean and transparent, it sure does not have the last bit of air, organic midrange, and delicacy of tube setup.

seems like I am convincing myself to stay with tubes. yes and no. I know something take tubes to create but solid state has closed the gap in recent years. just wondering if the gap is small enough and time is now to pull the trigger.