Does the Transport make a significant difference

Ricred1, I have eliminated the preamp in my own system since last Winter: currently I have Esoteric X-01 transport via SPDIF into Rowland Aeris DAC.... into Rowland M925 monos via XLR.... into Vienna Die Muzik speakers. The sound is marvellously refined... And not at all edgy. All wiring is Nordost Valhalla II.

Guido

Hi RicRed, not all DACs are well suited for direct-to-amp operations... Hence, your mileage may vary.

you can also try a subtly different strategy... Combine DAC and preamp into a single box. E.g. Jon2020 has reported astonishingly good results with his Rowland Capri S2 preamp combined with its DAC card. Total investment just below $4K list. See this short thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1413730895&openmine&zzGuidocorona&4&5#Guidocorona

Hi RicRed, here are some questions for you...

* what sonic characteristics are missing, or you want to enhance, maximize, or simply modify, through the addition of a preamplifier?
*
In general, what are the most important audible parameters to you?
* What music do you mostly listen to?

Depending on your answers, we might come up with different preamp suggestions.

G.

Ricred, you seem to listen to music which has a combination of rapid leading edges that need to be handled without intermodulating the treble -- lest they become harsh, and lots of sostenuto in the melodic lines, which instead need mounds of harmonic exposure to sound emotionally involving.

The above, in combination for your need of a well defined three-dimensional space and images,, and a transparent sense of "natural", or '"organic" seems to spell once again the name of the Rowland Capri S2... It can be had with -- or without -- the DAC card.

Others on the thread will have other suggestions... Sonic descriptions in words can go only so far... In the end, you might need to try things out, and see what best fits your musical taste.