Which amp to use with Linear Tube Audio pre?

I’ve read more than a few places that the XA25 makes an excellent pairing. I might step up to that eventually, too. At least for an SS option. I’ve been using a Schiit Aegir sometimes, but prefer the Primaluna DPHP. What speakers are you using? I seem to get better bass response with either power amp than straight from the MZ3 with Zu Soul Supremes. Into 16ohms the MZ3 is only rated for 1/4W, but it gets loud enough even if it is turned way up. I don’t think it’s a volume difference I’m hearing when I use a power amp. I’m curious what you’re missing, since I’m having the opposite experience. It’s great on it’s own, but a little help makes it even better. (Of course my pessimistic side thinks that once you point it out I won’t be able to ignore it anymore.) I’ve also been considering SET amps, since it seems crazy to run the DPHP if I’m not even using 1W the vast majority of the time. So it might just be preference.

It’s so easy to forget how much our ears can adjust for loudness. Once you’ve acclimated to a quiet room music at 70dBC can seem plenty loud, but turn it down to 70 from 90 and at first it sounds wrong and imbalanced. Even though I find myself listening at low levels quite often, I still didn’t immediately get how you could use a 1W amplifier with Maggies. There was a thread here a while back where someone was upgrading to an XA25 from the Schiit Aegir. It’s what sold me on trying out Class A with the Aegir instead of waiting to save up for the XA25. Might be a less expensive intermediate step. I wonder how the newer class D might do for you or even GaN Class D. Curious to hear where you end up.

Aegir was interesting, very warm and full sound. But sounded syrupy and compressed compare to using the MZ2 as amp,  definitely stepped on details the MZ2 was providing
 

@davide256 

it took a while, but I get what you were saying here now. I’ve been doing a lot more listening with the MZ3 as an integrated. I still use the Aegir sometimes, but feed it with a SS hpa for background music or TV or just days I’m not up for burning tubes. The last time I put the Aegir between the MZ3 and my speakers was after listening a while to the MZ3 by itself. And it hit me. Maybe I wasn’t listening to the same things before and was focused on other differences. I can’t unhear it now. Probably not going to use that combo anymore.