The ref 3 is a very very good pre-amp, up their with the best designs of all time IMHO. Not sure on how the ML will stack up against it as I have not heard one. I do listen to a ref 3 regularly as I have one in long term rotation against an Ayre KX5 and a MSB Analog DAC ( with volume control).
With a good SS amp to back the ref 3 up, its a killer combo, one I just spent all day enjoying with my Ayre MX-R mono blocks. Prior to the MX-R I had the ref 3 paired with a Ayre VX5, both combos are sublime. I highly doubt I will ever move my ref 3 on, I have listened to the ref 5 , ref 5se and ref 6. They sounded very nice of course but not "oh lets pony up 10-15k " good to get me to upgrade. That said, I am looking to move my KX5 on. Read that as you will.
Hope this helps.
With a good SS amp to back the ref 3 up, its a killer combo, one I just spent all day enjoying with my Ayre MX-R mono blocks. Prior to the MX-R I had the ref 3 paired with a Ayre VX5, both combos are sublime. I highly doubt I will ever move my ref 3 on, I have listened to the ref 5 , ref 5se and ref 6. They sounded very nice of course but not "oh lets pony up 10-15k " good to get me to upgrade. That said, I am looking to move my KX5 on. Read that as you will.
Hope this helps.