2. amps-preamps
  3. 185499-132884

Tube Preamp: How many tubes does it take to .................

My McIntosh Tube Tuner/Preamp has 17 tubes (some for tuner of course).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275808078607?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=2bcceb8a-2310-11ee-a804-333735616563

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This EAR 802 Tube Preamp has 14 tubes (and either MM or MC phono)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275949778364?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=a2033c2a-230e-11ee-a2d3-636437633039

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Some have as few as 2 and no mention of Hybrid

Some call themselves Hybrid

What _____________________________?

 

elliottbnewcombjr
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,884 posts
 

1965 MX-110Z is hardly a maintenance nightmare……. an excellent engineer w ears…. paid heed to SOE ( safe operating envelope ) of ALL the components in circuits, including line voltage variability = legendary tube life and reliability…. so Gow and company understand this w the RCA tube design manuals as stone tablettes  ( yes that was intentional )… Of course further genius like Roger Modjeski….. used the envelope advantageously …..10 k hour tube life….in a power amp…

markw1951
51 posts
 

Maybe some engineers get paid by the part.

coppy777
137 posts
 

The Top Conrad-Johnson GAT2 preamp hand only two tubes.  One gain tube per channel.  A MOSFET at the output of each channel controlled and lowered the output impedance.  Their new unit uses four tubes.  A cathode follower on each channel replaces the the MOSFET transistor. 

luxmancl38
580 posts
 

My current Luxman Cl38u SE has eight tubes five for the preamp and three for the phono. Previously I had a CJ ET3 SE it had only one tube.

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