[SteveFord]

I have no experience with the ET5 but I do own a CT5 which sounds like what you're after.



Any of the conrad-johnson preamps from the last 20 years should work out well, it's just a question of matching a model up with the rest of your system.

[Huang]

I have a Audio Research SP11 with six 6DJ8 for me this is end game so real. If the material is 3D it is 3D. The only downside is remembering to let it warm up, and its got to warm up to sound its best.

[SteveFord]

Audio Research makes excellent preamps so there's a lot of good choices out there.
The deHavilland UltraVerve 3 I just sold did a really good job of it, too.  I didn't mention them as they're out of production, the owner retired.

[Kw6]

I have a Audio Research SP11 with six 6DJ8 for me this is end game so real. If the material is 3D it is 3D. The only downside is remembering to let it warm up, and its got to warm up to sound its best.

Have you compared the SP11 to AR current offerings like LS28se?

[mr_bill]

That would be an interesting Audio Research comparison