[truant]

I have a preamp dilemma:
  I'm considering upgrading my Norh ACA 2b...but to what?
  Basically I like the sound of my system(Sony 9000ES/Norh 6.1 Prisms/IRD MB100s/ACA 2b/VH Pulsar ICs/TMC speaker cables/LAT PCs)but would like to squeeze out some more detail and improve the bass. And I don't want to spend any more than I've spent on any of my other components.
 My ACA seems to only like the stock Sovteks. All of my tube rolling has been met with microphonic outbursts of some degree. I feel that the other members of my system are waiting for me to do somethimg.  I'm intrigued with the CI passive pre, think the EE Minimax is gorgeous, and feel that the IRD Purist may be the inevitable synergistic mate to my IRD MB100s. I'm in the midst of upgrading my X/Os and drivers to those found in the 6.9 Prisms so I'll make some gains in detail and bass with the speakers. But I still feel that some key improvement depends on the preamp.  Any thoughts on this?

[JoshK]

You sure the preamp is the culprit?  I would think the speakers are you limitation there, but that is a guess.   Tube preamps aren't really tauted as the end all be all in bass, the ACA is likely just as good or better than the lion's share of tube preamps in this regard.  I love my Purist but I am not sure that that is your best upgrade option.

[truant]

thanks Josh. Good advice.  I'll finish my speaker upgrade then go from there.
-Norm