Pre amp suggestion Ayre or Audio Research

All good choices. However, definitely the Audio Research Ref 5, followed by the LS28SE. All will offer better balance and much better detail than the Mac. The Audio will offer a very slightly more musical sweeter sound. I have owned Audio Research REF 5se and 6SE friend of mine owns the LS 28SE I’ve heard Ayre and have owned Ayre for a long time.

you can’t go wrong with any of these, but I think the Audio Research reference five is on a different level. Far more nuance put a more bloomed mid range.

if you have the C49 then why the hell are you looking at a new Preamp?

Thanks all for your input. I’m not sold on getting rid of the Mac, just looking for opinions. I’ve learned a lot from these forums. 

@referee1 -At various times I owned Ayre KX-8, a Ref5SE and now LS28SE. While all three are terrific, I found the Ayre, while detailed and fast, was harsh/colder than I liked with my ProAc speakers and ARC 75SE. The differences between the REF 5SE and LS28 SE are bass and midrange. LS28 SE has more bass, the REF 5SE more midrange bloom.

What specific improvements are you looking for, and what sound characteristics are most important to you?