If you could only get one piece of Decware gear what would it be? Preamp or Amp ?

Order your amplifier first. With a great source you may not need a pre-amp.
If your sources are digital, your DAC will have multiple digital inputs. If you have both digital, and analog sources, order your Decware Amplifier with 2 sets of RCA inputs. If you can get along w/o a pre-amp, then why purchase one?

Having just shy of ten years experience with Decware amps, speakers, and a CSP3 with 25th mods, my vote is for a preamp, however, this is most likely a minority opinion, and probably a small minority.  

What components are in your current system?

I'm in the small minority with Doug, get a CSP3 Anniversary edition or a CSP3 modded with the A-mods with Miflex caps.  If you don't have an amp and want to get into low efficiency get a pre owned SE84UFO to go with the CSP3, or any other pre owned Decware amp of your choice.

When I had my CSP3 modded the difference it made was mind blowing.  No I would not sell my UFO25 but, I did have a UFO2 with meters and sold it a a very reasonable price to make room for the UFO25.  At the time there were no A mods for the CSP3.  If there were and I combined it with the UFO2 I'm quite sure it would have taken a lot longer to get the UFO25.  Not that I regret what I did.

A very long time ago I was told to start with the source first.  I didn't listen. After many years and many dollars I finally got it.  If it's a matter of available funds get the CSP3 with mods and Miflex or a CSP3 and get it modded!

When I started my Decware odyssey, Steve told me my amp was my "weakest link" so I started there.  But I still bought the amp, pre and phono stage all together.  And with the current wait list, that's the only practical way to go.

I own or have owned the following in your approximate orbit:

CSP3 with Jupiter caps
Torii Mk IV
SE341.2+
Schiit Bifrost
Caintuck Lii-15
DNA speakers

I've owned other EL84 amps but not an SE84.

If I could only buy one piece of Decware gear, it would be a higher watt amp like the Torii or the ZMA. I know how sweet an EL84 amp can sound and I'm certain the SE84 is fantastic, but 2 watts severely limits your choice of speakers.

Once you've chosen speakers, the best Decware amp will reveal itself. You can't go wrong with any of them.

I would get the CSP3 preamp with your 100 spot. Then, I would make a decision on speakers. You can find many amps (SS or tube) that are readily available. Then, I would get on the list for an ultimate Decware amp. I would want one flexible to move between the two systems. Thanks

Low power amps take planning.  Traditional speakers aren't going to match up well if you need to fill a space with volume.  With a guideline of 3db requires double in power would 98db speakers with the same amplifier been enough?  How about 101db speakers?

I would recommend finding the speakers prior to the amp.  The constraints of size and placement for your lifestyle are major factors.  I'm running 2 watts with corner horns over 100db efficient and it will play fairly loud (over 85db) in my room which is pretty big.  Prior I was running over 350 watts on ADS towers and it didn't fill the space as the corner horns do.  

With my current setup the SE84UFO with NOS tubes is awesome.

Excellent point, and one I had not experienced until Decware. It's not about volume but density. I chased power and volume for a while thinking it would sound better. As you state, the louder the system, the more the room is a factor, which for most is bad news.

Decware allows me to hear the tone I want at low volume. Steve's early white papers explain the benefits of this well. A major part of the tone I am talking about is density. That can come with a good source with sufficient voltage output and an a SET amp. It is easier to achieve with the addition of a good pre such as the CSP2+ that I have.

I use a Torii III in one room with Decware MG944s rated at 94dB, and a Torii IV in my main room with updated pre-Decware release HR1s rated at 92.5/8 ohm (I believe). In these relatively high volume rooms... and for my immersion listening preferences (mids 70dBs to ~80 with max transient peaks in the 82-90 range depending on recordings)... and since my pre stages jack up Torii distortion potential some... while also preferring the sound from less than max power tube compliments in my amps... For these higher listening levels I can get occasional peak distortion on some recordings. So I would not be satisfied here with lower powered amps or less efficient speakers.

Sooo DR3, assuming the ratings on our speakers are correct, and sonic balances aside, guessing 88dB at 4 ohms would likely not allow enough Torii headroom for my preferences and in my systems and rooms. Whereas, 97@16 would likely allow more than enough volume for me without peak distortion.

Also here, though most everything is tuned up with serious modifications, my computer/DACs have good density, my Toriis are inherently weighty and dense, and my speakers are pretty good at density and weight also. But when I have put in a SE34 or a Taboo, all else the same, things did get leaner, while not having enough volume and headroom across recordings. But again... my setups.

So I can imagine the improvements from increasing source density with some setups, but with my source and the Toriis I have (one heavily modified throughout, and the other only having upgraded coupling caps and a few wire upgrades), I set things up so that my average gains from the pres bring out just a nice taste of the pre sound enhancements. Then, relatively speaking, this gives me more liquid resolution/density and lucidity, but pretty close to what my already smooth and densely resolving computer/DAC setups give without pre stages. And I love the sound with just the modified MKIV. But I love it more with the sonic enhancements my pre stages can contribute, with their extra tube tuning options, and from the gain balancing with the Torii they allow for fine tuning dynamics, density, lucidity, weight, etc. From this relatively neutral baseline, I use gain balancing between my CSP3, ZRock, and Torii all the time to bring the best out of various recordings.

So, as with the variety of considered opinions in these posts imply, I guess what we each might "need" is relative to the system/room complex we each have. Leading me personally to having difficulty suggesting which Decware component might be best to start out with. I like all I have tried, especially with elucidating modifications, and in the right company.

Timing is everything. Watched the Decware wave grow and jumped on. That led me to build my Schiit system with the only expectation that it didn't sound like A$$. Testing out some Lii F15's for the SE84UFO2 got me close to a sound from the past. Luckily  I'm getting close to a sound I been searching for. Bonus I bought a lot of tubes before the huge price increase. For the past 11 months been enjoying the rediscovery of Hifi. Last System I bought was in May of 1991 and that turned into a complete disaster. After that Hifi was put into the boat category. Love it as long someone else own it.

Thanks all

Funny how things work out chapsjon. Dana said Quote:
It sure does. Hopefully my plans work out. Having a little knowledge can go a long way.

So the deal is done. Just have to wait to try out a Decware preamp. Had to go with the amp. Keeping my expectations to a normal level. Thanks again for the input.