thanks for all the inputs, all. i do agree with the necessity of trying the component in my own environment and evaluating based on my personal predilections. in this case, i've decided to start with the X1 and see how it sounds, if for no other reason than i appreciated the communications from mark at reno and it's from the same company as my power amp.
Pass X1 and Rowland Capri Preamps
if you've owned or heard both of these preamps, i'd love to hear your impressions of how they compare. i'm looking for a pre and have narrowed it down to these two, however, haven't seen any comparisons that mention how they sound.