I run Wilson Duettes and have also run the Watt 3s and I like a tubed amp with these speakers personally. My experience was that a tubed amp is not as important with the Duettes, as they produce a terrific response and are less prone to glare or brightness in the upper frequencies.
I have tried a couple of tubed pre's and found the BAT's best for me. This may be partially true based on the fact that I run BAT amps during the winter months. But as a reference, the amp also did very well with my ML 331.5 that I use during the summer months.
I also bought and tried a cary SLP pre, but ended up selling that as I liked the BAT better with my BAT amps. Though the sound between the BAT and the CARY was very close with the Levinson amp. Oh, it is the BAT VK51 (I think I would stay away from the 3 as I undertand there is a pretty significant jump from the 3 to the 5 from what I have read - but I myself have not listened to the VK3 preamps).
I have tried a couple of tubed pre's and found the BAT's best for me. This may be partially true based on the fact that I run BAT amps during the winter months. But as a reference, the amp also did very well with my ML 331.5 that I use during the summer months.
I also bought and tried a cary SLP pre, but ended up selling that as I liked the BAT better with my BAT amps. Though the sound between the BAT and the CARY was very close with the Levinson amp. Oh, it is the BAT VK51 (I think I would stay away from the 3 as I undertand there is a pretty significant jump from the 3 to the 5 from what I have read - but I myself have not listened to the VK3 preamps).