Effective recommendations to add warmth & smoothness while keeping bass control

@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. 

I have struggled with the best sound for me and I finally nailed it. The Meitner MA3i, Pass XA-25, Volti Audio Lucera…perfect in every way, lately I have been going back and forth with the First Watt Sit-4, the XA-25 is better. Also taking the Pass XP-12 pre in and out still undecided on it..sorta leaning to take it out permanently.I tried the tube buffer from the company that was mentioned, sent it back. Don’t over think it simple is the way to go..

@charles007100 the preamp section in MA3i is excellent. If you have only one source you can easily do without a preamp. You’d have to introduce a preamp that’s a much higher level than XP-12 to make a significant improvement.