Dartzeel w/Other Preamps.

I should be satisfied as I've been out of audio for 22  years, but now it's starting to knaw at me and I've only had the amp for less than two weeks 😵. 

Before getting into more trouble, at least let what you have settle in real good and really get accustomed to the way your current system sounds...

That's the scary thing with audio - there's always something better around the corner!

Alrighty. 

The 18NS is among the finest pre-amplifiers—one benefits greatly from using the pre-amplifier with the 108 in single-ended mode. The same is true when using a DAC with internal volume control. The 18NS has a sophisticated phono pre-amplifier, with recent models updated to accommodate Herve's newest darTZeel low-output moving coil cartridges. All to say, a portion of the 62,000USD price of the 18NS is for its exceptional phono stage. If you are digital-only, perhaps a higher-performance DAC (although I understand the Holo is quite good). I am watching closely the soon-to-be-released Lampizator Posiden, which, in addition to an end-game DAC, incorporates Lukaz's latest pre-amp circuit. US retail is approximately 25k. Two line-level inputs are included.  

Enjoy your 108, and have fun with your next step.  

Curious if anyone has tried the 108 Model 2 with out a preamp, just using the DAC volume control?  Either the Playback Designs MPD-8 variable volume control, or using the internal preamp on the Grim MU2?

@hearthis - are you going to try the Lampizator Poseiden?