i recently had a similar desire - i replaced my linn kairn w/latest power supply, w/a rogue 99 w/magnum upgrade - really nice, but i sacrificed low-end detail & body. it wasn't acceptable, but to be fair there may have been an impedance mismatch - too many folks seem to like the rogue; i should listen to it in other systems, perhaps. anyways, i sold it & purchased a cary 98slp, which betters the rogue in all aspects, and the bass response is fine. i really like it, but i'm gonna a-b it w/a melos music director that i got at a good price - i heard the sha-gold a couple years ago, & was suitably impressed, so i think their top-line piece will be great. whichever one i like best, i will keep; then i will be done w/preamps (for a while!) oh yes, both the rogue & the cary *are* a lot warmer than the linn was... doug ps - get a 2nd sub - two are a requisite for proper sstereo soundstage, imho. (also, each one will be driven only half as hard for equal spl - yule get much less distortion!)
Advice on preamp choice
I have an Audiolab based system consisting of an Audiolab 8000CDM transport, 8000DAC, 8000S (Integrated running in preamp only mode), a pair of 8000P power amps, driving a pair of Monitor Audio Studio 12’s and a REL Q100E; additionally a DUAL CS505-4 turntable, and a Parasound P/PH100 phono preamp. All IC’s are Stealth FLR, and speaker cables are Stealth Premier(stereo pair/biamped), power cables, a combination of Stealth M7’s (transport and DAC), and Stealth HAC (Integrated, and power amps). Also using Monster HTS2000. I want to upgrade the system and am looking for recommendations as to next move. Would like to replace 8000S with preamp, I am considering an Audiolab 8000Q, and Classe CP35, 4x. I wish to retain levels of detail but would like a little warmer sound. Any other preamps I should be considering that will match my setup?. Will also be adding seperate speaker cables for HF (Stealth FLR silver?) for biwire/biamp. Thanks.