Transistor Preamp that sounds like a Tube Preamp?

Yes, that existential reference is more bread on the water, and if anyone seems interested, I'll continue.

Yes Asa, I am interested and please elaborate. Are you still using a Supratek, or have you went with Shindo or similar??

At the level where the lack of dimension is experienced, the experience almost becomes ineffable to the cognicizing faculties. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. You live in dimension, so why shouldn't you want your stereo to replicate, catalyze your mind's experience of it, also?

Yes, Asa, that's precisely what I was after... the goal being to create a synergistic system that will allow me to reach these deeper listening levels in the most optimal manner... and thus, to ultimately bypass the ego-driven pontificating senseless mind for the sake of "pure being", or "soul", or "presence", or whatever term you'd care to assign the unknowable.

For those missing Asa's point, perhaps the "what is" has it rigged that way... (to borrow an Asa quote from another thread!)

I guess what I'd really appreciate Asa, is some advice in creating a system that will "take me there". The "real" me that is. Perhaps I can call you for specifics?

Asa:
My room is 13' wide, 19' long, and 9' high. Well damped with leather furniture, carpet, and drywall - not overly reflective. Listen mostly to classical at moderate volume.

Source is the latest Marantz SA-7 SACD player.

Pre is Supratek's Cabernet Dual (Mullard rectifier, RCA regulators, Sylvania Bad Boy 6SN7s, TJ 101Ds).

Amps are Wyetech Sapphire monos - 18wpc parallel SET, no feedback (Tungsol 6900s driving TJ 300B mesh-plates).

Speakers are B&W Signature 805 monitors on good stands (8-ohm nominal not dropping below 5 ohms, first-order cross to tweeter, fairly easy to drive). REL sub fills in the bottom octave. B&Ws are on the short wall 5' into the room toed in.

Power conditioner is Running Springs' Haley, power cords are Dream State, ICs are Oritek, speaker cable is Tekline's best bi-wired.

Most obvious deficiency here would be the speakers. I think Living Voice or Audionotes would offer a more optimal pairing... Have you heard Reference 3A's Grand Veena??

But then again, am I wasting my time with a digital only front-end??

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks Asa:

The ESPs are definitely intriguing... but what 50wpc amp would you recommend for them?

Leaning towards the Audio Notes but don't these need to be corner loaded?? I'd prefer to keep the plasma in between without messing up the imaging...

Also, have you compared 300Bs lately? I recall you favor the new Western Electrics and I wonder how they might stack up to my TJs...