1. EAR 868 (used)
2. Coincident Statement Linestage (used)
A couple 3 years ago I accompanied a friend to go audition a pair of AZ Adagio floor standing speakers. Gorgeous looking speakers, by the way.
The setup had EAR 100w amps. I asked of the preamp and could swear I was told ‘Frankenstein’. Knowing then Coincident made an amp called by that name, I said as much, you mean Coincident? The seller agreed.
Obviously looking back there was a communication breakdown.
An analog source was used primarily until a digital one was asked for. Isoclean PLC was in use as we were informed.
The presentation IMHO was as close to SS as one could ask for in spite of the tubes. It lacked the sheen or luster of tubes what so ever. The bass was remarkable though.
Whenever one decides to mix and or match different houses and the numbers regarding input and output IMP and gain coincide, everything will work on paper.
One should as well be prepared to move on if the sonics don’t butter one’s bread, and that possibility exists a lot. As the sound or ‘synergy’ is another story altogether.
A real world certainty is staying in the same house will yield more synergistic parings more often than not. The noteable disparity then hinges on performance, not electronic matching. Of course too, digging or not digging a brand’s voice plays a role.
Were it me, I’d try hard to get an EAR pre.
I’d bet too, either of your choices would do quite well…. Good luck.