For what it's worth.... Not sure if I was looking for euphoric sound. But I did want more. So a few months after I bought my amp, I started looking for pre's.
I'm a really big fan of my Torii II Mk IV and therefore Decware. In fact, I really wanted one of the new ZTPRE's, but while I was talking it up, a friend suggested this. Well, he suggested I research it.
http://www.dsachsconsulting.com/custom%20line%20stage.htmlAnd then, I had to have one. After three months, mine is on the way. One reason I went with Don is he reminded me of Steve and how approachable he is. And to be honest, in the beginning I was drawn to his pre a bit based on aesthetics. My case is the walnut version. So it looks a lot like my amp in terms of style. But the real reason was the recommendation of a friend and the reviews. And the best part is that Don allowed me to tweak a few of the components a bit to my desired tastes. For starters, a quad of Shuguang CV 181 tubes, Duelund Caps, and a 64 step remote.
One of the things I did while researching was a lot of reading up on the various tubes and variants various builders were using. I also spent a lot of time researching the various output caps available. Based on the wanting more concept, I was looking for a means of producing sound that helps induce that state of euphoria. I settled on the Duelund CAST PIO-Cu output capacitors as a means to this end.
I'm hoping and believing this will be a home run. And.... it's basically a risk free buy as a cousin of mine bought a used Mottram design in a metal chassis that he tweaked on a bit and loves. If I don't like Don's version, he wants it. But, I have a feeling I'll keep it.
Not selling for Don. (yet) Just sharing.