Oh how I wish Class D amps ...

Wait a minute muralguy.

Let's go back to the "None but one solid state preamp will do their best with class D" assertion.

That statement implies you've evaluated all of them personally with your ho 2 ho amps. Now any rationale and clear thinking person knows you couldn't have done this. So why not be a bit more conciliatory and admit there is more than one preamp suitable for Class D amps. In fact, I've used a number of them (dealer disclaimer) with great results.

You like your system. Great. However, your combination is not universal. If so, more audiophiles would do what you're doing. In fact you seem to be on an island.

"Audiofeil, you know how low ICE impedance runs"

It is 10k - just a little low but many class D manufacturers use additional input circuit that increases impedance. My Rowland Icepower uses THAT1200 instrumentation amp to obtain 40k input impedance. Others use transformers.

Low input impedance is not related to class of the amplifier or modules used but to practical implementation. For instance the newest Rowland 625 class AB amp has 10k input impedance - by designer's choice.

My Benchmark DAC1 has 60ohm output impedance at 0dB XLR output jumper's setting (that I use) - no problem even with 10k input impedance. The worst case is at -10dB jumper's position making output impedance 1.6k. It might look to high for use with Rowland 625 but this impedance is resistive (output divider) and will only alter output level by -1.3dB

I would think a low input impedance would better suit most ss pres than most tube pres?

Unsound, I think he was talking about the input impedance, not the output impedance. I could be wrong, but that is the best I can make out of:

you know how low ICE impedance runs. Solid state preamps have great trouble with this.

But how could there be a solid state preamp that could not drive the low impedance that tubes or a passive can? That part does not make sense. Muralman1, I think you need to restate whatever it was that you were trying to say here.

Atmasphere your question mirrors my thoughts, we're on the same page. :-)