I was at one time convinced that SS amp and tubed pre-amp was the only way to go. After a few years of frustration in dealing with my counterpoint SA 5.1 I went to SS pre-amp too. I have avoided the interminable break-in period and the ultimate break-down period of tubes. How long do they really sound "Great?" To me this hobby is about listening to music not playing with tubes. I am on my second Krell pre-amp having recently upgraded to a newer model. I love the sound. All this writing is really meaningless though, you have to find the pre-amp you'll love to live with and whose shortcomings are the most tolerable.
This hobby is worth the frustration when you get to the point when you stop listening to the system and start listening to the music!!! Buy a Krell, buy a Counterpoint, or buy a Sim P-5, but get the one that makes/lets you listen to the music.
This hobby is worth the frustration when you get to the point when you stop listening to the system and start listening to the music!!! Buy a Krell, buy a Counterpoint, or buy a Sim P-5, but get the one that makes/lets you listen to the music.