amp-preamp considerations.

I think we have answered this question before. I would buy at the very minimum a CJ premier 17lsII and maybe jump to the 16lsII. Either pre-amp will bring out the best in the prmier 140 anything less is a waste. Any of the pre's you mentioned are not in this league.

Of the pre's you mentioned either the pass or as someone else mentioned the CJ premier 18. However, In my opinion you would have been better off with a tube pre and ss amp for which there are many more synergistic matches. Tube amps require more maintenance and are more costly to maintain not the mention the heat issues. In my experience you get most of the tube sound from a tube pre-amp. This is why it is so important to pick the right tube pre-amp. The tube amp is more icing on the cake more inner detail if you will; usually at the cost of bass control.

I have a tube pre with ss amp and love the combo as many on this site have commented and or experienced. However, I love tube amps and I am probably going to purchase a tube amp (CJ premier 140)to replace my MF2500A. Having said all that; I still believe your best sounding solution as well as equipment synergy would be a tube pre-amp like a CJ premier 17/16. In my opinion anything less would compromise the premier 140 and you do not want to do that. Again, just my experience and opinion. Happy listening and by the way great purchase.

Machine

I have had personnel experience with a tube amp; premier 11a. I sold it because it was not enough power to drive my thiels. I love what tube amps do that is provide the inner detail in the mid to high-end frequencies that ss simply can not do; no hype about it.

The recommendation I made to you is an effort to get you to consider a pre-amp that will first and foremost provide the best sonic solution and provide system synergies as to not cause system matching concerns. You obviously purchased a high-end amp you need to drive that amp with an equally high-end pre-amp which will bring out the best the amp has to offer. You also need to consider front ends as well as cabling. What I am trying to convey is system balance. You do not want to compromise the amp by choking it off with inferior components up stream.

Tube amps by there very nature are high maintenance and you need to provide the care necessary as well as select up-stream components to get the best out of it.Again, happy listening