How to select and pair a preamp and power amp?

I used the Fraya+ for a very short time, with a pair of Nord, NC500 one ups, Sparco 2590 opAmps.  My speakers are pretty picky about crap equipment.

Just a wonderful pairing. Plenty of punch, with a nice tube in the pre and SS power amps. BAMB.... It was all under 4,000.00. I bet you can get closer to 3000.00 if you look. All new too, not used... 

Options anyways!!

Regards

If you can bi-wire your speakers, Look for a BAT VK-300SE integrated and pair with a BAT VK-220 (preferably with BAT-Pack cap upgrade).

I hear you buddy.  I have a pair of Focal 1028 be's with a prima luna dialogue premium preamp paired with a PL HP amp.  Beautiful and versatile.  Then I upgraded by adding a second HP amp.  Significant improvement (not that the single HP was in any way bad).  Then I rolled my first set of tubes in the preamp. Again, I heard a difference!  Finally, I completed my speakers by adding REL sub-woofers.  I hated turing that system off at the end of the day!

So with your 1038s, you have an incredible sound that you can go forward with in the years to come, as your budget allows in the real world.  What ever path you chose, just remember, sub-woofers!

Right on billtro, I am running a pair of REL SH3 subs, could not listen without them!

Quicksilver Line stage preamp $1295 (new) would likely pair well with many Solid State amps. I've only paired it with an Atoll integrated (on bypass mode) but it sounds great.