Simaudio I7 vs P5.3/W5.3

Also if you know of any other brands in that price range and how it would compare to say the Sim W5 or W5.3

Thanks and much appreciated

I used to have a P-5 pre and switched to the 5.3 pre which was sonically better than the P-5. I used both pre's with a W-5 amp, which I still have but now mated with a Evolution P-7 pre.

I had read somewhere, I beleive www.uhfmag.com where Simaudio said the sound of the new W5.3 is better than the W-5 amp it replaced.Given my experience between both the P-5 pre and the P-5.3, I would beleive the same holds true for the new W5.3 amp. The W-5 is still an excellent amp and sounds excellent. Class A stereophile every year while in production with $$ signs beside it meaning it provided performance way beyond it's price point.
Cheers

Thanks - I have a Simaudio I3RS Integrated that is 100W into 8/170W into 4ohms. My speakers are PSB Synchrony Twos (maybe moving up to Ones) that dip below 3 ohms in the bass. My I3RS handles the bass exceptionally well considering this.

So I am thinking using the I3RS as the pre-amp, buy the W5 (depends on an ex-demo discount I get), then eventually buy a P5.3 maybe.

I think that is a great idea of getting the W-5 and the 5.3 pre. They do sound great together.Make sure you get the 190 watt W-5 with the square emblem on the front with the word moon.

The older W-5 has an oval emblem which says celeste on it and is 175 watts. There were many other improvements other than wattage on the newer 190 watt model.