The 5011 linestage preamp taken with the 1521 A CD Transport and 1511 E DAC is by far the most "live" sounding system I've experienced in my home. For those who dare to dream of components that marry the best of tubes with the best of solid-state, and who fatasize about a CD player that will let them enjoy digital payback as much as analog, MBL's designes come closer than any I have ever heard.