pass or krell

Another vote for tube pre

Tell us what is in your system.

I own a Pass XP-20 and it sounds great with my Pass amps. It is extremely transparent, neutral and quiet. It is also easy to use and has a newer, more convenient remote. I have also heard great sounding tube preamps, as others suggest, in other systems with other amps. I tried the highly regarded Doshi preamp in my system and it was a very bad match for the Pass amps. SS and tubes can both be great IME, but it depends on system matching and your tastes. What's the rest of the system?

I'd get Pass over Krell to answer your question. Others suggest tubes, but that is not your question.

Tube pre-amps can have a great sound but I tend to lean towards the solid state.I did go down the tube path for a little while and I decided I do not need too many more options I.E. different tubes to try out. I drove my self nuts trying all the different tubes. Then I found myself spending a fortune on tubes. I have to say the my tube amps and pre-amps sounded great but I hear much more resolution with a super high quality Solid State pre-amp power amp combos. With out knowing your system I cannot give advice on tubes vs solid state but I do know that the Pass stuff sounds great!

Thanks very much for your opinions.
My system is:
Emm Labs CDSASE
Thorens D700
JM Lab Utopia 3 LA Scala
Kimber cable (but if I'll buy Spectral will be MIT)
and
Pass or Spectral.
I change from MC Intosh amplifiers.
Greetings from Switzerland Sergio