New amp for Vandersteen 2CE

adg101 - thanks, I'm strongly considering the Aleph 5 despite a form factor that will be difficult to integrate, a power switch buried on the back, and the fact that it is a "toaster"! 

jl35 - poor quality DAC is overstating it a bit.  My experience is the DAC is capable enough.  Next project will be to try out several external DACs, but this is an area of high cost and diminishing returns.

bondmanp - I've done some digging and Odyssey sure does get some love, so well worth considering.

So really it comes down to putting some money down and trying some things out.  These all seem like really good options.

I found significant improvement in my Connect with Parasound Zdac and Peachtree Dac itx - relatively low cost improvements - but if you are happy with it as is...

hey, if I was happy as-is, we wouldn't be talking :) 

If you're staying solid state, the Pass would be my first recommendation.

But the 2CEs work really well with tube amplifiers (we have a lot of customers using them), and if you "would like a little more clarity in the midrange" as you put it a tube amplifier is going to be a no-brainer for this speaker. You will need at least 60 watts in most rooms. 

Thanks Atmasphere. I have tube guitar amps, but haven’t gone to tubes in my audio system. For now exposed tubes seem like a problem waiting to happen - kids.