I have dCs Elgar Plus, Purcell and Verdi going into McIntosh MC501 which go to JMLab Utopia Nova. It presently sounds a bit analytical and dry though extremely accurate. I also have a Levinson 26S pre-amp but my dCs does not sound as good through this. In NYC Lyric, Sound by Singer and Stereo Exchange all suggest that I will get more bloom through a pre-amp. Two questions:
1) Is it true that I will get more bloom through the right pre-amp?
2) What is the right pre-amp? I am considering the VTL 7.5, VTL 6.5, McIntosh C1000 & 1000T, and the Audio Research Reference 3. The VTL 7.5 is probably better than the 6.5, but is it worth the difference in price? Is there something else I should consider?