Focal Maestro Utopia , need advice for AMP/PRE

I've had the opportunity to hear most of the Focal Utopia speakers at one time or another, but I'm not 100% sure if I've heard the model you have. I know I have heard the Diablo, Stella, Grande, and one of the ones in the middle of the range.

My experience is fairly limited, but I've never left the store impressed when Aesthetix amplification was being used. Every time that I'm blown away it has always been Krell amplification being used.

What's crazy, I was blown away the last time I stopped at the store and the setup was a pair of Focal 807v speakers with the Krell S-300i and I came home more "unhappy" with my system that day that I had on previous trips with the Stella and Grande speakers hooked up to Asthetix gear.

My point is that you should hear any Asthetix gear (really any gear) before making the investment. The people at the store are obviously happy with the combination, but it's never been my cup of tea.

To follow up, I can't say that the Focals require a solid state power beast to perform their best, only that the Krell gears was far superior to my ear compared to Asthetix.

I did hear one of the mid level Utopia speakers with a Pathos Logos and has no objections, but it was in a much less controlled environment and a much shorter experience.

My speakers are Focal 836v and I have heard them on the Krell amplifiers and was equally impressed and am currently blown away with the sound of my Yaqin tube amplifier and would put it on par with the Krell S-300i. I wouldn't exclude tubes from potentially sounding fantastic with any Focal speaker, but if I had the funds to get into the Utopia line I would go Krell and never look back.