Effective recommendations to add warmth & smoothness while keeping bass control

3

Room treatments or room correction

@soix  I had a Schiit Saga 2 and also owned a Parasound Zpre3, but I mostly let it sit there because of the Saga 2. Now the Saga 2 sits unused as well, since it doesn’t really help either on Tone. The preamp section of the D90 III Discrete, when paired with the Volumio Rivo Plus, renders as smooth sound.

Also thinking about the LTA MicroZOTL Pre (Level 3), but it’s over my budget and I haven’t been able to find a used one...

Yeah I’d definitely focus on the preamp at this point.  Here’s a nice Backert Rhumba 1.3 that’d be well worth the stretch to $2600 IMO, and you can obviously roll tubes to tailor the sound for as much or little warmth as you want.  Best of luck.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650230657-backert-rhumba-13-preamplifier-outstanding-piece-perfect-condition/
 

+ 1oh1 on room treatment.

Horns for speakers. These won’t break the bank.