I’ve got a similar setup to you, but have the BHK preamp and instead of a BHK amp I have a Luxman. The BHK preamp really improved my system I think you are going to like it. I didn’t love the tubes that came with it and replaced them with a set of Telefunken tubes circa 1960s. It makes me happy.
1 Like
Thanks for the feedback. I got a notice that it’s shipped so the day of reckoning is near… Can’t wait to see if after a few days of play my expectations are exceeded, met or dashed mercilessly.
Be sure to report in and let us know.
If they are dashed mercilessly then your expectations had been set too high 
I really like the Focal 1038s you have. I have 1008Be IIs for my office computer and I absolutely love them. In my main setup I thought about getting 1038Be but instead got Magico A3s (before the price hike). But my 1008Be IIs still make me wonder what the 1038s would sound like instead of my A3s. Have fun with your new gear!
After reading through this entire thread, the one thing that stands out to me is that t-note has an incredibly cool wife. . . . . “Get more tubes!”
1 Like
I’m just glad to see this is “solved”. Confession remains a fraught sacrament for a sinner like me, and I’m thrilled that some people have found their way to redemption. smile
Moving from an all-in-one to components with a pre-amp was revelatory. But what now? Satisfaction or pursuit of more? Hmm.
2 Likes
Simple, Mike (for me, anyway).
Satisfaction until curiosity takes over and usually at least somewhat extinguishes satisfaction and good sense—and savings.
2 Likes
Thanks, I’m sure I will. I have so many great recordings to listen to and hopefully enjoy anew.
On the Focals, to say that I like them best out of all the ones I’ve had over the years is an understatement. I’ve always been partial to planars and electrostatics. Before the Focals I had the Martin Logan Expression 13As, $15,000 twins that sounded as good as their price.
The 1038s, however, play way above their price, especially at the sale price of $7,000 (from over $12,000 original retail) that I lucked into. That beryllium tweeter is absolute magic with the PS Audio gear. Never have instruments that play in the high frequency range sounded so real, but the same is true of instruments in every frequency range.
Best thing, though, is their sensitivity to placement. It’s been fun moving them a few inches in any direction. Pointed straight ahead or with a slight toe-in they sound fabulous. With extreme toe-in, having the tweeter axis from each speaker cross in front of the listening position, they own every superlative that you can use to describe speaker performance.
It’s one reason I can’t wait to see what happens when the BHK Signature Holy Grail is in the chain. Better, same or I can’t imagine worse, I’ll write it up in a post and have fun with the headline.
Andrew Jones used to recommend setting up the TAD speakers to the extreme so that the tweeter’ axis crossed in front of the listening position . . . I have never tried this. What happens to the soundstage depth? Is the performance in front of the speakers rather than behind?
I have a pair of Focal 1038s, if you want to take them up to another level add a pair of subs.
I run a pair of Rel S/5 sho subs.
You will be amazed how good they sound with subs IMO.
1 Like
I have a pair of Focal 1028 Be’s that I paired with REL S/3 sho in a 12 x 12 room with about 1/3 rd of the backwall open and some room treatment. I hated to turn that system off when I had to leave. I hope you enjoy your setup at least half as much as I enjoyed mien.
The REL’s really completed the system.
3 Likes
I have a pair of Focal Aria 948s …true a step down from the Electras
and no Be …but wow can these 2 ladies sing…and enjoy them a “whole” lot…
As opposed to 1/2 lot 
2 Likes
Yes I have the same experience as you I hate when the time comes when I have to shut my system down for the day or evening it just sounds so damn good… the Focals pretty much regardless of model really do exceptionally well with a pair of subwoofers. They integrate so easy, they seem to love subs and they complement each other very very well.
IMO.
3 Likes
Over on the Windom page, Ted just chimed in on a similar conversation. Now that I have his DAC feeding a BAT VK50SE, the settings he recommends were pretty much in line with how I have things dialed in between the two devices.
Between the STAX SRM-007tA and the BAT, there’s a lot glowing in my rig along with the KEF 105/3’s at the moment 
1 Like
I hope your speakers aren’t actually glowing!
1 Like
Very fascinated by plasma tweeters. I’m a dyed in the wool electrostat-lover so low mass transducers are of great interest. Nearly mass-less Mylar diaphragms and even closer to true mass-less plasma couple very well with the air we’re all trying to move with ultimate precision.
2 Likes
Amen! …the plasma’s are a component I will NEVER part with.
1 Like
Any reliability issues experienced with the plasma tweeter speakers? What make/model are these? And… any “overdose on ozone” issues!
I just built a brand new set of power supplies. Same architecture, just high end parts. I was also fortunate to recently find a person in Germany that was willing to build new electrodes and quartz cells for these Dukane’s. So, it is likely they are performing even better than when new.
As far as ozone production, it was not an issue with the Dukane Ionovac’s. I can leave them on all day and not a hint of ozone smell, even with my nose right up to the horn.