do i change the preamp or the speakers?

The great thing about a tube preamp is that you can substitute the stock tubes with tubes of different sonic signatures. You can roll tubes to make your preamp have a different timbre, in your case you need tubes that would provide more air on top or a higher frequency extension.

Here is some good reading regarding the different manufacturers and the characteristics of their tubes. These are NOS tubes which would most definitely provide you with the sound you seek. One tube that comes to mind is a RCA Cleartop which has sounds open and airy on top.

[url]http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm[/url]

BTW, while you are learning about NOS tubes, let your AI stock tubes burn-in for at least 60 hours before you judge them.

"So the question i have is this. Do i change the speakers or do i shop for a replacement preamp."

That's a difficult question to answer. I think you're right to be looking at those 2 components. The only problem is there are so many variables involved that the only way about it is to actually try different components in your system to see what works. I can't recommend speakers because its just too personal a choice and I don't know your current speakers well enough to know what direction to go. For a preamp, if you can find a VTL dealer, have a look at the 2.5 preamp. The dynamics are exceptional on that unit. You won't be giving up tubes either. That said, I would still try it first in your system, as there's no guarantee that it will fix your problem.

Good comments by the others. But before replacing anything I would first try increasing the capacitive loading of the phono cartridge. You didn't mention which Shure cartridge you are using, but some of them require significantly higher amounts of load capacitance than most cartridges do. In some cases as much as 400 or 500 pf, which is unlikely to be provided by a typical length of phono cable and the input capacitance of most preamps or phono stages. And even if you are conforming to the load capacitance recommendation for the particular cartridge, going higher than that will likely result in a brighter sound.

DB Systems sells a kit which can facilitate that, consisting of y-adapters and capacitors of various values built into RCA plugs.

Beyond that, and if the issue persists after the new tubes seem to have accumulated sufficient breakin hours, you may also want to consider replacing the cartridge with one known to be brighter, rather than replacing the preamp or speakers.

The first two graphs on this page, pertaining to the Shure M97xE, illustrate what I'm talking about quite dramatically.

As to why you may have found the tonal balance of the system to be acceptable with the added brightness of the Bryston 3B, while being disappointed with the excess warmth you are now getting, perhaps the 3B was excessively bright and was thereby compensating for a cartridge or cartridge loading issue.

Finally, if you do change preamps, in choosing the replacement be careful about its output impedance. Many tube preamps have output impedances which rise to much higher values at deep bass frequencies than what is specified (the specs usually being based on a mid-range frequency). With some tube preamps that will be a problem in combination with the 22K input impedance of your power amps.

Regards,
-- Al

P.S. to my previous post: Here is a link for the DB Systems kit I mentioned.

Regards,
-- Al

As usual Al has provided excellent advice especially changing the cartridge loading. I also believe that the Bryston has a brighter sonic signature than the Modulus.

I may have spoken too soon regarding the use of NOS tubes. AI states that the proper selection of tubes is critical and makes recommendations.

http://www.audibleillusions.com/technical/

In any event, allow your stock tubes time to burn-in before making any decision on a new preamp.