Any McIntosh preamp with their DAC 2 board will do all the above. HDMI ARC is really nice to have if your integrating a TV/home theater. I use the C2700 Tube preamp but there are a few more to choose from. very well made and operation has been seamless when integrating my TV through the ARC HDMI input. Also of note any McIntosh preamp with the DAC 1 board can be upgraded to the DAC 2 board so you can find an older one used and save yourself some money.
NAD C658 With Tube Power Amp?
I am re-engineering my sound system from a music-only 2.0 system to a "home theater 2.0" system. I would like to find a preamp that takes coax, optical, and HDMI digital inputs, and output to a tube power amp.
I have read mixed reviews of the NAD C658. Some buyers seemed really happy with their purchase, and others thought it was too "hard" or "clinical" sounding. I have a strong preference for a tube or tube-like sound.
Currently, I have a Rogue Audio Pharaoh integrated, and am thinking of pairing the NAD C658 with either a Mystere PA-21, PrimaLuna Prologue Premium, or LSA VT-150. My speakers are the ELAC Carina FS247.4 towers.