I cannot consider my system to be complete since I have an upgrading project going on with the preamplification. My DAC has a setups for different levels of output voltages and I'm thinking about coupling this DAC with passive preamp. The only active preamp I will need is for my analogue setup + separate phono. So finally the thing is to construct a preamp that has passive line inputs and active phono input and sell 11b -- That's the project. Preamp is my only drawback in the system. On the digital setup it has an exessive gain to feed the power amp with significant detail and depth sacrifice. On the analogue part it has built-in MM and MC phonos with internally adjustable impedances. Despite of what is specified, it's difficult to find an appropriate volume level or gain so you do not loose a beautiful detailability of the turntable/cartridge -- It's always something not enough (Maybe I should precisely match input impedances of cartridge-out vs phono-in?). Give me an appropriate suggestion about phono that I want to buy first in terms of minimal amount I need to spend to step away from my current situation. The demand is soundstage + dynamics + BASE .
Actually sounds like a damned intelligent system! If she were mine, I would try a CJ PV-12a or Audio Research LS-7 pre. I have always liked what tube pre's do for S.S. amps. Best, Jim