Hi:
Your search-set sounds kind of like the one I came up with about this time last year (and I too am located in an area where there aren't dealers nearby and was moving to tubes from a passive pre). To your list I'd also suggest adding the First Sound Presence Deluxe and Joule LA 100 MK III. I ended up buying a used Presence Deluxe and a Joule LA 75 Mk II, figuring I'd keep the one I like more. I auditioned each one for a month or so, starting with the Joule. The Presence has not left my system.
The Joule is a great preamp and has the benefit of a standby setting, where the tubes remain warm and ready to juice up. On the other hand, the FS has an attenuator for each channel which is a definite advantage and a separate power supply, but no standby function. I just leave mine powered-up all of the time if I'm going to use it every day. Other than that, it has a bit too much gain than I prefer, meaning that I only use the steps between 7 and 9 o'clock, and when it is turned all the way down, it still produces sound.
I suggest you check out the reviews of each one in the Soundstage
archives. Good luck. Regards, Jim
Your search-set sounds kind of like the one I came up with about this time last year (and I too am located in an area where there aren't dealers nearby and was moving to tubes from a passive pre). To your list I'd also suggest adding the First Sound Presence Deluxe and Joule LA 100 MK III. I ended up buying a used Presence Deluxe and a Joule LA 75 Mk II, figuring I'd keep the one I like more. I auditioned each one for a month or so, starting with the Joule. The Presence has not left my system.
The Joule is a great preamp and has the benefit of a standby setting, where the tubes remain warm and ready to juice up. On the other hand, the FS has an attenuator for each channel which is a definite advantage and a separate power supply, but no standby function. I just leave mine powered-up all of the time if I'm going to use it every day. Other than that, it has a bit too much gain than I prefer, meaning that I only use the steps between 7 and 9 o'clock, and when it is turned all the way down, it still produces sound.
I suggest you check out the reviews of each one in the Soundstage
archives. Good luck. Regards, Jim