I've enjoyed this thread, as I have just upgraded my 2.2's to 2.3's and am shopping for a pre & amp or an integrated to run in a bypass of my ACT 3 HT. I heard a Musical Fidelity A5 in Dallas the other day and was very impressed. An integrated with 250 doubled into 500 with a pre to boot. He was runnning them through some totems, don't recall the model. Bookshelf sized with a helluva bottom end. I have an all thiel system, and am looking to run a tube pre and ss amp..keep the suggestions coming! Anybody heard an older Conrad Johnson?