Just a word of warning (in the manner of Keith from 'The Office') - throw away your active preamp and get yourself a passive amp IF (big IF) your power amp is sensitive enough to seize the output from your CD player or whichever source you are using (my Prima Luna Prologue Four is such a sensitive flower, along some of the Quad and Leak according to Icon Audio website) . I have used very high quality solid state for the last year, as well as a very accomplished valve preamp. However nothing can compare to this level of detail, soundstage and transparency. Obviously, the signal is very unadulterated because it is so direct, free from any interference from unnecessary amplification tha colours and inevitably deteriorates the signal (even if you spend a fortune on a preamp, it will be 'less good' than the signal from a good cd player like an Arcam cd192). I am using a pair of Chord Chamaleon from source to preamp and anothe rpair from passive preamp to th epower amp. The improvement is not subtle, it is simply stunning. Now I feel i'm getting everything I could from my proac D15. What is ironic is that you could be improving your system whilst saving serious money (good passive amps cost about £250). I wish I knew this combo years ago, I would have always used just a mediator between the source (passive amp is really a bit of wire with gain really) and a good valve power amp. Simple, so so so good...have a go and you'll be surprised...
Proac D15, Arcam CD 192 (transport)-M Fidelity VDac, Prima Luna Prologue 4, Icon Audio passive preamp, Chord chameleon interconnects and QED Revelation (lower register) mixed with Chord Silverscreen (upper Register).
Proac D15, Arcam CD 192 (transport)-M Fidelity VDac, Prima Luna Prologue 4, Icon Audio passive preamp, Chord chameleon interconnects and QED Revelation (lower register) mixed with Chord Silverscreen (upper Register).