Good Preamp for Emerald Physics 2.3

Hooper, Rclaassen is right. I would go the Prism route. I briefly owned the 2.3s, and while they have a lot of promise, I think the cheap pro digital unit is a compromise. You can blunt the sonic contributions with tubes, but there are limitations. Clayton Shaw designed that speaker, and subsequently designed the Spatial rig. You can dialogue with him about the reasons why. There are multiple grades to choose from, not just the Orpheus which is expensive. It gives you so much more control, from the x-over, to room correction, to flexibility with source material (hi rez material...24/192, etc), and you can even add tube simulators which are little DSP-like programs that run in the digital domain. If you like what the 2.3s are doing, its a no-brainer.

You are right. The DBX is not a total assassin, but does influence things negatively. I have not heard of that modding outfit. If you have 4K to spend, I would look at the tudiokonnekt 48 and a mini. It would be under that price tag I believe and gives you much more flexibility, including upgradability for the future.

Charlie, one option is to get one of the higher level DBX units. I spoke to DBX last year, and one model does have a bypass so you do not have a redundant and degrading DA conversion. I don't know what the price is.

I would still talk to Clayton about the Spatial thing. If you source a used Mini, and get one of his lower level packages (and sold your pre-amp and dac and some cables), it would not cost you much $ if at all.