Best solid state pre-amp below US $ 10.000,00 ??

...the AA direct will be more transparent no matter what you say. You have one more item in the chain. Depending on what preamp will determine how much more transparent. Now the preamp you use will add dimension, tube like sound, decay or how about some color. I bet a beautiful color too. I personally prefer the AA via my VTL than direct. But it still is less transparent (but really very very slightly & who knows how much is the cables, power cord, preamp, my ears etc). Also the VTL does not add body alone but also adds tremendous power, dynamics, decay etc. But this is all extra & wasn't there before.

This nicely describes what I also observe when using a tubed preamp with my APL Denon 3910 versus running the APL direct to the amplifier. I've had this discussion with Alex Peychev for a couple months. While I say using the preamp sounds better to me, he adamantly insists the APL sounds best going direct. Now, I have a new perspective on the debate. I suspect Alex is talking about transparency whereas I am talking about added body, dynamics, and dimensionality.

BTW, I'm using a lowly First Sound Presence Deluxe II...hardly an uber-preamp like the others being discussed here, but I give up very, very little in transparency, and any loss is far outweighed by the benefits.

Thanks Dgad for putting into words what I could not effectively convey.

If anything i seemed to hear MORE information with the Nagra in the chain than when it ran direct.

I would argue that this is an illusion, and in reality is impossible. You simply can't have more information reaching the amplifier with an additional link in the system chain. Perhaps the Nagra is highlighting or boosting certain frequencies which accounts for hearing more detail.

OK, so your opinion is that the analog output stage of the AA is responsible for its lack of detail when running direct? And, this output stage can be bypassed when using a separate preamp? This would explain why one might hear more detail with an outboard pre, but it doesn't say much for the AA's capability to run direct, especially given the additional cost.