2. amps-preamps
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tube pre amp plus solid state power amps?

HI there,
My systems have always been tube system all the way through phon stage + pre amp+ power amps, but recently I got a little tire of maintenance of these amps and thought about changing power amps to solid state. I listen classical music. I always love tube amp particular from my LP collection. I am worrying about using solid state power amp will loose the texture of the sound that I like. However, I have done a little reading, some one said high end power amps will keep that sound, especially something like McCormack DNA-500 and Claytons amps. There are some writing confuse me, such as: β€œit is not important to use tube phon stage, solid state will be better.” I even read the statement says: pre amp is the least important of the whole audio chain.”

Well, what I am thinking about is keep tube system for both my phon stage and pre amp, use solid state for power amps replace tube system. Does anyone can tell me this will be a good change, or I need either whole system on tubes or on solid state?

Thanks
suikang
suikang OP
4 posts
 
more question about impedance . my Carry out impedance is 400K and my Rogue in impedance is 200K. is that Power amp incoming impedance should be higher?
mitch2
3,910 posts
 
Suikang, The output impedance of the Cary SLP-05 preamp is only 400 ohms not 400K or 400,000 ohms. The input impedance of the Rogue M150 is indeed 200K ohms or 200,000 ohms, which is 500 times the ouput impedance of the SLP-05. Many say the ratio should be at least 10 and I like to see a ratio of at least 20 for input impedance to output impedance to avoid rolling off the low frequencies. The input impedance of your Rogue amps is about as high as it gets (a good thing) and the resulting ratio of 500 will work just fine.
suikang OP
4 posts
 
thanks a lot Mitch. it is very helpful
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
I am with you 100% on the tube preamp. It is only with intense listning that you can tell the difference between a good tube amp and a good solid state amp when you are using a class"A" tube preamp.
davidtwotrees's avatar
davidtwotrees
4 posts
 
I know this is a really old thread. I had to give up audio for awhile to due to a career change after the economy died. I am now making some money. I have purchased some big iron, a Classe' S700 amp. I need a pre amp. The input impedance of the Classe' is 70 Kohms. The output impedance of a Cary SLP-98 that I am eyeing is 440 ohms. The Classe' was inspected and is operating to factory specs. Will this match work?
My speakers are Canton Karat L800DC. My music is CDs, often played from a hard drive. I do like to crank my music at times. I listen to electronic chill, pop, jazz, and acoustic folk with a smidgen of rock and roll. I am not married to the idea of tubes. I am also considering a Plinius ss preamp, as well as some DAC Pre amps. I have no interest in vinyl........
Thanks in advance.
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