2. amps-preamps
  3. 192910-2439

Tube Sound With Equalization?

I currently have and Benchmark preamp and amp playing into full range drivers. The sound is very neutral as expected, but recently I was able to demo a Mac MA352 Hybrid Integrated amp with a tube pre and solid state amp. I found the sound to have more decay, especially in the mids, and more pronounced with stringed instruments. I was wondering if an equalizer would be able to recapture some of those qualities, and what would the settings be?

koestner
erik_squires
16,379 posts
 

I do want to point out that Mc has a particular sound quality, it's not really about tubes.  If you liked a Mc demo in the way you are describing it may be hard to find another brand which performs the same way.   For instance, listen to a modern AR integrated and I think you'll find that sound more laid back and less detailed by comparison.

invalid
1,244 posts
 

Space tech lab makes many different tube buffers, there is even one with a builtin super rectifier. I don’t own a space tech lab buffer, but I do own a preamp, dac, hybrid amp and super rectifier. The tube preamp made my big Krell amp I also own sound much better than the solid state preamps I tried. Then I added a super rectifier and the detail was better the soundstage was much better and the decay was spectacular.

koestner OP
675 posts
 

Hello All, Thanks for all the replies. What about inserting one of those BSG QOL boxes. They go for about $500 used once in a while. Would that give some openness and air to the sound?

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