Hi. Sorry for late response. A lot has happened since the last reply !!
1. I have the Krell 750mcx monoblocks - boy, are they awesome ! The bass is the cleanest, tightest i have ever heard (outdoes my pass aleph 5 and the Halcro's). I find them to be much more musical and transparent than the DM88 BUT still find something missing, maybe because i am using the DM88 as a preamp - not getting the tube-like warmth which i desire. But the halcro dm88 phono stage is excellent - amazing detail but a bit dry and lesser musical than the krell. So i am now selling my Halcro set !!
2. So i decided to get a tube preamp and opted for the EAR 912 - looks like a match made in heaven ! The warmth ,transparency,dynamics, detail, bass and theres more air to the music. I must admit the DM10 PHONO WAS A LITTLE BETTER with more detail. It seems as if the halcro extracts so much more noise and distortion that the music is laid totally bare but damn , no musicality.
3. The EAR is so flexible - with 2 phono inputs and 2 balanced cd inputs - one can have a damn party with this EAR. I was having lots of fun with a Wadia cd palyer, dcs puccini and the orbe playing all together with me being the dj with my kids - cant do this too often since we audiophiles have to behave. I'm sure Tim would'nt want me using his machine in this way. But, i love this EAR - VERY TRANSPARENT, PRESERVES THE DYNAMICS OF THE KRELL, AND VERY MUSICAL AND WARM.
One question, if someone can help - you think a krell preamp with the cast connection would have been better?