I can also recommend, as an owner, that you try the Benchmark pre-amp. I don’t have a wide experience of competitor products. I first used my unit (for both headphone and pre-amp duties) with a Puccini, and now with a Vivaldi. It lets the flavour flood through, to use an inappropriate metaphor. There are helpful and informative reviews in Hi-Fi News (HPA-4), and Stereophile (LA-4). If you enjoy technical reading, Benchmark have an “application note” on their site that describes the design goals of the amp. Good luck with your search.
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