This seemed a little too general for a specific forum here.
It is very common to see the suggestion you get a tube preamp for that 'tube' sound but buy a SS amp because it is a heck of a lot easier to live with, more powerful, cheaper, etc. (vs. a few preamp tubes).
I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a new (stereo) preamp, and have two same-priced options, tube and SS. Both have a very good internal DAC among other things.
I am leaning SS because most of my listening will be via the internal DAC (or possibly external DACs in the future) and it would seem strange to immediately drop that signal into tubes. Amp-wise, do and plan on having a mix of SS and tube amps and switching between them for fun. My logic is instead of the preamp giving me that 'tube' sound...the tube amp can give me that tube sound...instead of trying to make a SS power amp sound like a tube amp...and with a SS amp I can maintain the integrity from source to speakers.
Not a specific answer obviously, just curious if your journey and experience has pushed you one way or the other. Thanks!
It is very common to see the suggestion you get a tube preamp for that 'tube' sound but buy a SS amp because it is a heck of a lot easier to live with, more powerful, cheaper, etc. (vs. a few preamp tubes).
I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a new (stereo) preamp, and have two same-priced options, tube and SS. Both have a very good internal DAC among other things.
I am leaning SS because most of my listening will be via the internal DAC (or possibly external DACs in the future) and it would seem strange to immediately drop that signal into tubes. Amp-wise, do and plan on having a mix of SS and tube amps and switching between them for fun. My logic is instead of the preamp giving me that 'tube' sound...the tube amp can give me that tube sound...instead of trying to make a SS power amp sound like a tube amp...and with a SS amp I can maintain the integrity from source to speakers.
Not a specific answer obviously, just curious if your journey and experience has pushed you one way or the other. Thanks!
A solid state preamp just does not work for me, no matter what is the power amp. Have tried numerous topologies and of course, lots of commercial boxes up to the 5k level. One of the hardest things to get right as a balance of transparency and musicality imho is the preamp.
And while i can understand a SS pre/power combo, a SS/Tube does not make any sense musically to me. A dac on a tiny plug in board inside a preamp makes even less sense 🙂
And while i can understand a SS pre/power combo, a SS/Tube does not make any sense musically to me. A dac on a tiny plug in board inside a preamp makes even less sense 🙂
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Thanks. Sorry I didn't say what. McIntosh C53 vs C2700. Not asking for a value judgment, I'm a dealer and able to purchase at cost. This would replace a MA7900 integrated amp that has turned into my preamp since getting some other standalone amps.
Make sure the tube preamp can properly drive solid state power amps.
Many tube preamps cannot.
And it also depends on whether the chosen power amplifier can properly drive your speakers.
Many tube preamps cannot.
And it also depends on whether the chosen power amplifier can properly drive your speakers.
- I have a tube tuner and RPI streaming to a jfet buffer in front of a tube amp, works great. Tube amp has volume control and plenty of gain.
- I also have a tube pre which usually/sometimes sits in front of a SS (pa5). Sounds good but doesn’t get the run it should as most of my preferred DACs are contained in other SS preamps.
While I love the sound, even modded with vintage tubes etc, the preamp does not convey as much ‘happy tube warmth’ as the amp seems to. If your looking for tubes to ‘dampen digital harshness’ of streaming or file type or transfer or whatever, sure? I guess?but they both do it equally (couldn’t tell them apart) and transparently (didn’t notice).
F4 balanced monoblocks driven by tubes are high on my bucket list
- I also have a tube pre which usually/sometimes sits in front of a SS (pa5). Sounds good but doesn’t get the run it should as most of my preferred DACs are contained in other SS preamps.
While I love the sound, even modded with vintage tubes etc, the preamp does not convey as much ‘happy tube warmth’ as the amp seems to. If your looking for tubes to ‘dampen digital harshness’ of streaming or file type or transfer or whatever, sure? I guess?but they both do it equally (couldn’t tell them apart) and transparently (didn’t notice).
F4 balanced monoblocks driven by tubes are high on my bucket list
You see a lot of hybrids wit valve front end and a SS power output. These just don't have the valve sound for me, even worse are things like CD players with a valve follower in the output, just a tick box.
To my ears, the valve sound comes from the output transformer
To my ears, the valve sound comes from the output transformer
As is very likely the case case for many forum members, I’ve had numerous permutations of SS and tube gear over the years, and I think it’s fair to say there’s more than one “valve sound”, and to narrow any of them to a single factor / component is a bit short sighted.
Thanks. And not looking for 'tube sound' or using tubes to 'soften' harsh files - just what will sound best (generic statement, I know).
Ah, “best” 😉
If not already noted, the entire system / room , etc need to be factored into any calculus; otherwise it’s a bit of a crap-shoot.
If not already noted, the entire system / room , etc need to be factored into any calculus; otherwise it’s a bit of a crap-shoot.
Eschewing digital media seems like an enormous limiting factor in today's market.
I'll be honest. Since I started streaming music I hardly listen to any other source. Everything in the world is at your fingertips. My musical horizons have never been broader. And I'll admit that many digital sources leave a whole lot to be desired in the fidelity department.
Is there such a thing as an all tube DAC? If not then when is someone here going to do it?
Maybe a coupling transformer on the DAC output could soften the edges a little? Personally, I became weary long ago (in the tube days) with the limitations audio transformers impose. But hey- different strokes.
I have experienced (like others) that one amp might project a little bit to the front, another to the back.
Then this can be the same in a preamp. Then the mix might work out or not , sometimes this sort of cancels. This can be in SS or Tubes.
For years I had a tube preamp (6J6 + E90CC symm) and it gave > 1% 2nd harmonics. That did dominate all other amps . . .
Nelson Pass has written extensively on the phase of that second harmonic.
Once I visited Guido Tent, reknown from the excellent digital electronics. He had me listen to his demo set. He had perfect phase aligned speakers. Everything was great. Best vocals I ever heard. But . . . it was a wall. That made me a bit scared.
I still like the slight laid back sound; although at this moment I have the stage in front of my speakers. [Many old recordings can't handle that]
Then this can be the same in a preamp. Then the mix might work out or not , sometimes this sort of cancels. This can be in SS or Tubes.
For years I had a tube preamp (6J6 + E90CC symm) and it gave > 1% 2nd harmonics. That did dominate all other amps . . .
Nelson Pass has written extensively on the phase of that second harmonic.
Once I visited Guido Tent, reknown from the excellent digital electronics. He had me listen to his demo set. He had perfect phase aligned speakers. Everything was great. Best vocals I ever heard. But . . . it was a wall. That made me a bit scared.
I still like the slight laid back sound; although at this moment I have the stage in front of my speakers. [Many old recordings can't handle that]
