It might be an "upgrade" in terms of cost but I'm not sure that you're really getting a "mid-level pre." You might want to look at the Grace Design 101 or perhaps the RNP. They are slightly more expensive ($550 and $475, respectively) but they both get generally good reviews. And the RNP, like the DMP3, is two channels. My Aphex 207 gathers dust as we speak--the victim of an upgrade to a Great River.