Preamp Advice Needed - Gryphon Amp - Currently ARC Ref5se

@timlub 
Tim thank you for the SST recommendation.
I like what seems a wider bandwidth of the SS pre, although it is a bit brash sounding in comparison to the REF5se.
I am hoping a higher quality SS pre will have the best of both.

rob67 OP
How did you connect to the EVO?

I sent a PM to you Rob with my abbreviated email address.
Answer it using the email so I can send all the info, as I’m limited with what can be sent in PM’s.

Cheers George

rob67 OP
How did you connect to the EVO?

Hi Rob, you should now have an email with all the info on how it was all done with Edgar Kramer's Gryphon Antillion Evo/Alexia setup.

Cheers George

@rob67 The advantage of balanced operation is that you can avoid sonic attributes coming from the interconnect cable itself.
To achieve that, the output impedance of the source is very low. The other thing that is required is that the actual signal occurs between pins2 and 3 of the XLR, and ground is ignored.
When you do balanced any other way, such as with a passive volume control, you lose the primary aspect of going balanced, immunity to interconnect cables imposing a sound.

This is why it is possible for a good balanced preamp to be considerably more transparent and less colored than a passive control.

hi Rob, i highly recommend Backert Labs Extreme or higher preamp  which would definitely surpass Ref5se qualities and aid Gryphon top end to open up. BackertLabs pre have wide soundstage being airy and extended with silkyness without sounding brittle or sterile. It feels relax, natural and it's leading edge are not harsh or metallic sounding.
Both ARC & BLabs have excellent sound stage to make your speakers disappear but ARC sounds somewhat little bit dark "tone-down" or close-in comparing to Backert Labs pre. BL have that refreshing breath feeling like listening in wide open pasture..