2. amps-preamps
  3. 1049516051

Let's forget about being politically correct

I thought this would catch the attention of some of you. I have for the past 10 years used a SS amp and tube preamp. This was the prevailing wisdom with alot of audiophiles in the 90's and even today. I am look for a change in my amp/preamp, who out there is using a tube amp with a ss pre? How does it sound? What combinations have you tried?
bobheinatz
trelja
3,223 posts
 
I also agree that against the conventional wisdom, I prefer the ss preamp with tube power amp(s). That is, if the all tube system doesn't sound better to you.
reb1208
518 posts
 
I have had good results using hybrid pre-amp into a solid state amp. I have heard ss pre's into tube amps and to my ears I could hear analytical signature of ss pre. The amplifier IME will pass along what is upstream weather it is tube or ss. So I will stay with tubes at the soucre. The hybrid pre I like is the ARC LS-25 MK1. Fet pre-gain stage for low noise and drive. Secondary tube gain stage-with tube output. This has been the solution for me.
rgodin
85 posts
 
Here is Bel Canto equipment review that discusses this very topic with interesting insights.

http://www.soundstage.com/earmarked/earmarked200108.htm
cdc
1,809 posts
 
Good link Rgodin. Interesting part in the article:
". . .the entire circuitry of the PRe1 (plus the complexity of the second Acoustic Zen Silver Reference interconnect with its two RCA jacks) amounted to no more sonic influence than one high-quality attenuator on its own. This would remain an odd and incomplete statement about the PRe1's ghost-like sonic non-existence if I didn't add what else it afforded: very suave remote control over 0.5dB volume increments; channel balance, input selection, mute and input-specific gain settings; automatic default to each input's last volume setting."
So what Srajan seems to be saying is just use a passive pre unless you want balance, mute etc.
Problems with this are:
1)impedance matching of source to amp.
2)what if tube amp can't drive speakers? This case is commonly when people go to tube pre.
scuba
11 posts
 
I'm having very good results using a Placette Active Linestage with a pair of hot-rodded Atma-Sphere MA-1 Mk II.2's. As advertised, the Placette is extremely transparent, allowing the wonder of the Atma's to be fully appreciated. I truly believe that if you're going to mix SS with tubes, the preamp should be the SS partner. Tube amps (particularly OTL's) are just very difficult to beat--in fact I'm not sure they can be. As always, however, your final results will be SYSTEM dependent.
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