If you want to stay with Krell the Phantom or Evolution 202 are nice units.

Hi Jim,

Do you feel that the phantom and 202 won't be a little dry /clinical? My dealer said I might find them exceptionally detailed but a little clinical?

I'm also looking to change preamp (I have a 302e) and currently use an AR LS26. A toss up between Ref5SE and 202 - currently thinking the former it's supposed to have better low end grip than the Ref3 and has been far more popular than the Krell Preamps. If you can find a 202/ Phantom it's likely to be cheaper than a Ref5SE and I'm not sure of the benefits of CAST although I don't want to lose money on my TA interconnects.

There's at least one guy on here that prefers the Phantom to the Ref5 but I think most votes will go the other way.

Hi

I am using the 202 connected with cast on my MRAs. Works very nice! :-)

What about the Ayre KX-5 or KX-R Twenty? I have only heard the K-5xeMP but very detailed while not dry.

Absolutely love the kx-R but it is pretty darned expensive over here - too much for my pockets :)

Do love what it does though - the resolution and 3-dimensional soundstage is sublime. In fact it is the single best ss preamp I ever heard.

Too bad your in the UK. There is one for sale in the pre-amp section here on AA.
:whistle: :naughty:

Oh my - you are the owner of my all time dream reference amplifiers - never heard nor seen them in the flesh but they just exemplify everything that I love about the high end - over engineering at its madness. 16000 watts into 0.5 ohms:eek2::eek2:

Out of interest, what kind of dedicated lines did you install? In theory you would need 70amp /240v line.

What speakers are you using - any photos of your rig would be great!

What are you changing it out for, Jim? Presumably the D'Agostino?

Yes. If I am able to sell mine.