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Adding tube sound to my SS system

I have a question for the hive mind. I had the opportunity try a PS Audio BHK tube preamp in my system the other day (in between my LUMIN T2 and Luxman 509x bypassing the luxman preamp) and the vocals / midrange made my heart flutter and chills run up my spine. I heard life detail and nuance in the vocals that I didn’t with the Luxman preamp and sounded like the singer was in the room. But, it was lacking in soundstage, bass and so so recordings didn’t shine. The Luxman preamp made everything sound smoother and liquid but at the expense of some life in the midrange. I ultimately liked the sound without the BHK preamp better, But, that tube sound is intriguing and I’m looking for a way to add it into my system.

system is LUMIN T2->Luxman l509x->spendor D9.2

I keep the Luxman loudness on all the time. Maybe that says I like a fuller sound. i stream 99% of the time through Roon or airplay (tidal and my wife uses Spotify). The modern convenience of controlling volume from the phone is essential (this the LUMIN). Home theater runs through the HT bypass on the luxman. All kinds of music jazz, folk, rock, hip hop etc. simplicity has value over going fully separates. I’ve been trying to research streaming dacs that have a tube or streaming tube preamps but not really having any luck finding anything that fits the bill. Looking to upgrade the LUMIN as I love the aesthetic of the Luxman so it would be hard to part with but I’d do it if needed. Wondering if streamer to tube preamp to power amp is the only way to make it work. Budget is not too much more than my current gear and willing to buy used.

128x128trentgordon
emergingsoul
1,135 posts
 

Tube insertion along the Signal path influences mid and upper range frequencies very favorably due to increased harmonic influences. Solid state amplification is best for lower frequencies. So rather than go back-and-forth along the teeter totter of audio frustration I decided to biamplify using a tube amp for the upper ranges and a solid-state amp for the lower freqs, all with plenty of power.

Now I don’t struggle with being critical about what I’m hearing from my system. My concerns now Focus on the quality of the actual recording and there’s no way to resolve these types of problems. And of course dealing with potential speaker changes which are a pain in the neck.

And if everything fails I’ll buy a puppy.

 

 

koestner
668 posts
 

@mulveling  Thanks for the clarification. I appreciate your response, as I was not aware there were chip based R2R', but it does make sense to me now.

trentgordon's avatar
trentgordon OP
17 posts
 

I’m learning a lot here much appreciated. I’m thinking of going with one of the two options below into my Luxman 509 integrated. Any thoughts on which would be better? Both about $4k  

- new LTA Aero r2r tube DAC into the luxman integrated

- used r2r dac like an Yggy into a tube preamp like the Audio GD HE-1 XLR then into the luxman 509 integrated. This would mean two preamps in the same chain one being tube and the luxman SS. 

ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 

I found the Yggdrasil to sound very good for the money but nowhere as good as a good quality $5K or higher DAC… it’s treble is unrefined and overall the sound is thin. But, it’s good for a budget DAC. 

bassdude
495 posts
 

@ghdprentice

I guess it just depends on your range of experience with various DAC’s. I relied on the opinions of all these experts with a wide range of experience - to select the Yggy, which I’ve found to be everything they reported it to be...

https://www.schiit.com/products/yggdrasil

It seems to have a "magical," rich, warm, yet detailed, resolved sound and soundstage (an almost analog sound) - that I don’t find in many DAC’s, other than pehaps, some of the better "ladder DAC’s."

But then... I was using the MC2 Zen ASU/EBU Digital cable (which is the best type of digital interface) into the ARC Ref 5se Tube Preamp - which may make a difference!

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