New Pre-Pro or Pre with HT by-pass


I have just purchased a pair of Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grands. They will replace Paradigm Studio 100 v2.
I have an EAD processor,which has served me well but I wonder
do the newer processors work better for HT and 2 Ch.

Should I get a better pre-pro -Primare, Arcam, or
keep my EAD and get a good Pre with HT by-pass. Any comments
from you that have crossed this bridge.

Regards
JT
thomasjrt
After alot of listening of both less and more expensive components ($5K-$18K), I came to find the Classe SSP-600 pre/proc to be a great (IMHO) HT as well as 2-ch and multi-channel analog bypass-capable pre/proc.

It's got much more to offer than its price would convey...I've owned Arcam, Sherbourn, others and listened to McIntosh (fantastic analog), Anthem, Lexicon, Theta, Meridian, Parasound, Krell; my final choice (could have spent more) was the SSP-600...
Thanks for all the input, I've decided to buy the VTL 5.5 pre
amp and keep my EAD for movies.
Regards,
JT
I was going through the tube pre-am section here and
found for sale a Conrad Johnson Premier 17ls. At about the same cost how does Conrad Johnson stack up against VTL.
Regards
JT