laaudionut

Responses from laaudionut

High end bookshelf speakers for Small room
TAD is a great choice!  
Listening to what we Like Instead of what we have to
Some years ago I acquired a pair of Vienna Acoustics Liszt's and was crestfallen from my first listen. They were supposed to be an upgrade from a pair of PSB Stratus Gold...the PSB sang circles around the VA's.  The line falls under the radar of ... 
High end bookshelf speakers for Small room
TAD, without question! Stunning in every aspect of their offering and not overly sensitive to placement...which in a small room is beneficial.  
Looking at these specific preamps give me your opinions
No shortage of fellow audio enthusiasts who own and have provided their candid and detailed thoughts on Aric Audio tube gear...myself being one of them. Take a few minutes and call him. His build experience and customer service is matched by only ... 
Which preamp for Quicksilver mono amps?
I too have heard them with an Aric Audio pre and the match was amazing! Call him, his customer service is as legendary as his tube gear.  
Finding a Bookshelf for Luxman C900U/M900U
For whatever reason, my comment was removed by the site moderator. No, my error...after I posted my reply I noticed the OP's budget.   
Are Pass Labs XA60.8 mono amps enough?
I had the Pass XA60.8's driving the Focal Sopra II and they were more than enough to make them sing with no strain at all. Pair them with a tube preamp to tame the slight brightness that Focal's are known for.  
Used tube preamp $2-3K
Any of Aric Audio's tube preamps would be a great investment either new or pre-owned. Most of them have adjustable gain which is helpful with amp pairing.  
Keep McIntosh C2500 pre-amp or upgrade to C12000?
I second the Aric Audio Motherlode suggestion. I had both the 2300 and the 2500 prior to the Motherlode...the difference in performance will make you question Mac and high end audio (read; exorbitant cost structure) in general.  
Warm, yet detailed tube preamp
Aric Audio Motherlode II should be high on your list of considerations. Call him to discuss exactly what you seek...his customer service is as legendary as his tube gear.  
Speaker Slip Covers
I have a pair of TAD Monitor speakers and I went on to Etsy and found a woman out of Bulgaria who makes very high end custom covers for stereo equipment and speakers. You provide her with the dimensions you need or with the make and model of gear ... 
Non-fatiguing speakers in $10K range?
Not on most radars, but you might want to do a little due diligence on Canadian made, PSB Speakers. I own TAD's now, but my first pair of reference speakers were the PSB Stratus Gold's, and they were nothing short of fantastic and extremely pleasi... 
PSB Stratus Silver
I should have noted that a few years ago I sold my pair of PSB Stratus Gold's for $1100 as my reference for $800 price suggestion. Original owner and mint condition.   
PSB Stratus Silver
$800  
PREAMPLIFIER UPGRADE QUESTION
I strongly second the recommendation to reach out to Aric at Aric Audio. His tube gear, and the Motherlode preamp in particular, are world-class and a fantastic value.