Preamp SS to match class D amp


I have been reading quite a lot and unfortunately I cannot find a post who can guide me into a match between SS pre amp and amp class D. Going through forums people ask advices only on tube pre amp to combine class D amp probably for the fact of the colorations of tube and some sterile class d amp they own. I recently bought some Belcanto ref600m as I got rid of my Mcintosh 8900 who sounded too 80s hifi and I wonder if someone can suggest a good pre amp to link. I would like to have something well build, dual mono if there are still, with balanced input and output. Considering that I listen mainly vinyl, analogic circuit I am thinking. Question as well, is there any preamp with streamer and Dac or these are only digital? As I would like to have a Dac as well to attach and I am wondering if make sense to have another extra gear

thanks
beppep

Showing 3 responses by verdantaudio

Surprising to hear that as the US Trade Pubs like The Absolute Sound and Stereophile love AVM.  I have personally done some A/B comparisons between the flagship Ovation MA8.3 monos and other amps and was shocked at how good they sound.  

They still do a lot of modular designs but their "streaming preamps" are not modular.  

For just analog, Pass or Ayre might be good choices.  Need to look at impedance matching to make sure they are compatible to get the most out of them.  
You are asking for something that might be a bit of a unicorn.  Lots of streamer/DAC/preamps out there but they tend not to have analog inputs.  There are preamps that have DACs but they usually don't have built in streamers.  One unit that is a full preamp AND streamer in one is going to be uncommon.  

The PS Audio Stellar is just a DAC and they are FPGA (software based) and don't use a DAC chip.  Really nice, unit, especially for the money.  

Primare SC15 is a fully loaded DAC/Streamer but only has only one RCA analog input.

NAD M12 is an interesting option.  It is a modular design and there is an analog card with one balanced, one single ended and one phono stage input.  I can ask and see if I can get a second analog card.  It is not on my price list.  If I can, this would give you everything you want.  The base unit is $3849

AVM has a unit that is a fully loaded streaming preamp called the Ovation SD6.3 or SD 8.3.  The only difference between the 6.3 and 8.3 is that the 6.3 will have a Class A SS output stage while the 8.3 will have a Tube Output stage.  The issue is it has one XLR and one single ended analog input.  This is also in a completely different price and quality class and I believe it is $10,995.  The Ovation gear from AVM is all about sound quality and is a no compromise design.  This does use Dual  ESS 9018 K2M Sabre32 chips and the new software is exceptional.  

AVM eventually will have an SD5.3 and even an SD3.3 but they are delayed indefinitely because of COVID.  Because they have switched to a new software platform that is much better, they are no longer producing X.2 models for export.  

PS audio is obviously direct, I have no relationship with Primare.  I am obviously an NAD and AVM dealer.  
if you eliminate the streamer from the equation, have you thought about a McIntosh preamp.  The output is right to match with your BelCantos and the C49 is superb with a nice DAC.  You would need an external streamer, but it should deliver a more than coherent soundstage.