Best amps for everything EXCEPT bass


Vandersteen Treo CT speakers. Swarm subwoofer system with two amps. All frequencies are covered and sound outstanding with my Quicksilver V4 tube amps and the Swarm.

So, do I change out the Quicksilver for an Ayre VX5-20? Most of the comments on the Ayre upgrade focus on bass - my set up will benefit from improved bass, but that’s not the focus since the Treo’s aren’t my primary source of bass.

Thoughts, comments and recommendations are welcomed. 
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xcajunbaseball
Advice from JohnnyR is absolutely wise and rational.  Unless it's hyperbole,  cajunbaseball has stated the Quicksilver V4 sounds "outstanding". If this is true, why replace it? I believe that the addition of a top tier preamplifier could result in substantial improvement. Again this is under the assumption that the V4 and speaker pairing is truly outstanding. The Ayre amplifier may certainly sound different but not necessarily better than the current V4. 
Charles 
As usual, brother John is correct; I need to upgrade my pre. He is the one who told me to get a pre and not use the DAC as a pre. Adding even the cheap Schiit Freya improved the sound dramatically.

Why change? I use my amps for music, TV and movies. A tube change costs between $600 and $1,000. Why decrease the lifespan of tubes on HT? Sooooo, 

I see three options:  1) keep the Q4s, get a new pre, change tubes annually or so and shut up; 2) get a relatively cheap SS amp and use it for movies and sports only and keep the Q4s for music only; 3) get an Ayre or other SS amp that can serve both purposes and upgrade the pre. 

More comments are welcomed. 
PS - Since I have Treo CT speakers and not Quatros, what about the Ayre Integrated, the AX-5 Twenty????
I was just reading about the Ayres integrated.  I can't see any reason that wouldn't work well for you!
ran Vandy 5a and now 7’s with Ayre VX-R ( later upgraded to Twenty)
pretty good sound IMO

you do want an amp with excellent low end chacteristics because the transfer function is preserved with the Vandersteen high input subwoofer system. The Ayre has some grunt as a full range product. Sloppy bass will just get mimiced thru the sub

when i picked my 5a up at Randy at Optimal he was driving them with very modest Quicksilver power.....