Perhaps I think differently, but I would sooner put my $26K toward a dedicated room for my existing gear. I would expect that to provide more improvement all the way around than ANY preamp upgrade could insure.
What am I missing?
Stereophile this month has a review of a new McIntosh preamp set up that has, apparently, all-but-identical digital and tube-based versions of a preamp, controlled by some equally-expensive "control center". All told, the setup is $27K.
The review didn't make any attempt at explaining who this is being marketed to (other than people with a lot of money). Is this for people who just, literally, can't make up their mind? After years of debate, has the audiophile community decided that the answer is to have parallel paths, one with tubes, one with SS, to be able to select as desired betweent the two? The ultimate "they're both right!" answer?
It would seem like the same amount spent on a single box would yield better results, presumably on several fronts.
The review didn't make any attempt at explaining who this is being marketed to (other than people with a lot of money). Is this for people who just, literally, can't make up their mind? After years of debate, has the audiophile community decided that the answer is to have parallel paths, one with tubes, one with SS, to be able to select as desired betweent the two? The ultimate "they're both right!" answer?
It would seem like the same amount spent on a single box would yield better results, presumably on several fronts.