Tube Pre with Benchmark AHB2 Amp - anyone doing this?


If so, please enlighten me on the benefits over a SS pre or say, a DAC with volume control directly into the AHB2.

 

Thank you

timothy_m

Tube preamp is a good way to go if low distortion SS sound is not your thing.

I moved from tube preamp to SS Freya personally.

 

Tube preamps have higher output impedance. That can lead to much of the resulting sound being softer, less dynamic, and “easier on the ear”, but for best performance in those areas, you want a SS amp with corresponding high input impedance. So different amps will likely sound more different with a tube preamp. Impedance matching matters more than ever with a tube preamp.

AHB2 input impedance specs look decent for use with a tube preamp, but I can  assure you Benchmark products in general are not designed with tube pre-amps as a primary consideration.

I really enjoy the AHB2's that I have with a Sonnet Morpheus II DAC and Hermes endpoint directly into the amps.  I would like a preamp for functionality and have wondered if with a tube pre I could eke out a little more dimensionality, tone and overall body to the sound.  I certainly do not want a tube sound that is loose and flabby.

I appreciate folks sharing their experience with a tube pre and SS amp, particularly the AHB2.  Thanks.

@mapman tube preamps don't all have high output impedance, and the properly designed ones, sound more dynamic to me than solid state preamps I've had.

@invalid , true, Not all.
Linear Tube Audio for example. That’s due to their proprietary ZOTL technology that makes them unique. Good stuff. Quality more-SS like sound but with tubes. Something different. The “linear” in the name is appropriate.

@mapman it doesn't have to be a proprietary circuit, there are plenty of tube preamps with low output impedance.