tube magic with digital source?

I definitely find that tubes sound different than solid state. But in many ways if the DAC is detailed and natural sounding enough, the solution to big holographic sound presentation can depend a lot on speaker placement and phase correctness (if that is a word). 
In my own experience speaker placement and proper phase had a better impact on the nature of the overall sound of my system than changing amps or source. Amp and source changes can have a significant impact don’t get me wrong. But for holographic presentation the location of your speakers in the room should not be discounted. 

I am a big fan of digital music and I have heard very very serious systems where digital sounded darn great. I have a feeling a lot of it has to do with the speakers and crossover as well as the quality of the DAC and less to do with whether there were tubes in the amp. 
Having said that my tube amp sounds a lot better than my ss. 

Ralph, if my Burson sounds better than that Chinese whatever you will pay for both, agreed ? If not, I will pay for both.

Digital source+tube preamp+Class D amp= very good combo. 

Sorry @millercarbon. I missed your point in my reply.

You are certainly correct in that it seems the majority contend that tubes add something (ideally pleasurable) to the sound, as opposed to doing a better job of not adding/changing/omitting anything.

Now I'm off to shop for a tube amp...

Ralph, if my Burson sounds better than that Chinese whatever you will pay for both, agreed ? If not, I will pay for both.

:) nah. I just mentioned it to point out how digital, after only 40 years, is finally getting to the point where it should have been when it was introduced. If digital is done right, you really shouldn't be hearing differences between DACs and the like. Topping's D90 is one of the better measuring DACs on the market, despite its low price. It sounds quite decent too.


For 30 years I gauged how good a digital system was by how long it took to get a headache. In the early 1980s 2 minutes was a pretty good setup. By the end of the 1990s I could listen to some digital setups all day but not all night... and that was a $10,000 setup. Now I can go out and buy a Topping E30 DAC for $125.00 including shipping that I can play continuously without problems- its smooth and detailed. Some of that no doubt is due to my hearing loss in the highs. But the last time I got a headache due to digital playback was only 4 years ago at RMAF and my hearing measures the same as it did then.