The real problem (or saving grace) is that I know of no store that carries Mac, Bryston and Parasound so I could do direct comparisons. Something like that could push me from "what if I needed a new preamp" to "I'm buying a preamp" rather quick.
I know now that as for an equipment rack I'll either keep my Sanus EFAV (still not set up in the system) or go for a basic Salamander Synergy 30, so I've been working system layouts with each. Now, I may need to think about how any new preamp would fit into those layouts. I'm starting to sound like I'm actually going to buy one, despite my initial intent being hypothetical. The C50's phono section got a nice mention in Hifi News by Ken Kessler, describing it as "finely detailed, quiet, easy-to-tailor." Sounds like it would be at least the equal of my Aragon 47k phonostage. That description should go for the C48 as well. A JC 3 phonostage is surely going to be better than either.
Working the system layouts may reveal some things. We'll see.
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