Your list is all linear solid state amplifiers, sort of apples and oranges. Like tube and solid state amplifiers class D amplifiers have similar class characteristics as well as individual presentations.
Linear solid state designs typically begin to lose their charm as they get pushed beyond a certain output level, which is usually quite high depending on the load. Switching amplifiers tend to maintain their level of performance until they reach their limit.
My 9SE's are driving 87dB 4ohm Eidolons and have yet to run the SE's out of steam. I found that my SE's benefited a great deal from upgrading my AC with dedicated circuits using metal clad wire runs to the outlet and using shielded AC cable from outlet to the amps. This is a relitivly inexpensive upgrade that any system would benefit from.
I don't believe there is a tube preamplifier made that can match the quite transparency of most class D amplifiers. If the idea of using a tube pre to ease a sonic concern with a class D amp, there is usually a problem elsewhere in the system. IMO a battery powered preamp is the ultimate companion to a switching amplifier. Switching amplifiers can magnify time and phase issues of many poorly designed speaker systems as well as AC issues. I think this is what most casual switching amp users dislike and why they find the amp clinical.
On the other hand tubed output stages of source components can sound stunning as well as pairing the SE's with preamplification of a much higher class. The Benchmarks attenuation will work but I would suggest auditioning a stand alone preamp for the sake of comparison.
Linear solid state designs typically begin to lose their charm as they get pushed beyond a certain output level, which is usually quite high depending on the load. Switching amplifiers tend to maintain their level of performance until they reach their limit.
My 9SE's are driving 87dB 4ohm Eidolons and have yet to run the SE's out of steam. I found that my SE's benefited a great deal from upgrading my AC with dedicated circuits using metal clad wire runs to the outlet and using shielded AC cable from outlet to the amps. This is a relitivly inexpensive upgrade that any system would benefit from.
I don't believe there is a tube preamplifier made that can match the quite transparency of most class D amplifiers. If the idea of using a tube pre to ease a sonic concern with a class D amp, there is usually a problem elsewhere in the system. IMO a battery powered preamp is the ultimate companion to a switching amplifier. Switching amplifiers can magnify time and phase issues of many poorly designed speaker systems as well as AC issues. I think this is what most casual switching amp users dislike and why they find the amp clinical.
On the other hand tubed output stages of source components can sound stunning as well as pairing the SE's with preamplification of a much higher class. The Benchmarks attenuation will work but I would suggest auditioning a stand alone preamp for the sake of comparison.