Right --
@fpitas and I suggested, flippantly, but I'll opine only
partially so, that the AHB2 power amp is a superb performer and merits a superb front end.
If one wants
tube sound -- the AHB2 should probably
get out of the way.
I don't intend to speak
for @fpitas, though, despite the fact that I sometimes wonder if we were separated at birth or something*.
You
could (in seriousness) try a "passive preamp" -- in other words, a high quality attenuator** and a source selector (if needed) --
if your "use case" doesn't require additional
drive for the power amplifier's line-level input.
In full disclosure, I do sometimes use the above-pictured SE 2A3 amplifier with a passive "front end", also with good results, but the additional drive capability of the Yamaha adds some
oompf to the proceedings and has become my
de facto standard in the past few years.
____________
* He, however, was seemingly raised by a solid-state tribe, while the tribe that reared me subsisted on
tubers.
** I like transformer or autoformer volume controls, but there are very fine ladder-type resistance attenuators, as well.
)
