Let's forget about being politically correct

Engineer Bill Thalmann of Music Technology and formally Conrad Johnson uses a solid state preamp with a tube amp.

At the just concluded Montreal Audio Show, Gilbert Yeung of Blue Circle was showing off a prototype solid state preamp he may put on the market next year, with one of his hybrid tube amps.

The solid state amp issue really is best debated with the
speakers to be driven in mind. I have the Dunlavy SC-Vs that
love and require a high current design amp to get the maximum potential for bass. In fact, I use two SS amps vertically biamped which really makes for an amazing bottom end to the system. Along with this, I use a Tube preamp which seems to balance the system nicely.

My feeling it all depends on the entire system. Starting with the speakers. Some speakers are not going to be driven well with many tube amps. Some speakers are so sensitive they really do not reaquire serious solid state power. It all depends... so many factors...

I personally think this debate is a little silly. There are so many factors involved that having a set ideology (i.e. only limiting yourself to a tube preamp or tube amp) is in itself limiting. A person should not get wrapped up in the technology, so much as getting the best sound they can from their speakers (tubes or otherwise).

I have a pure SS system now. I have had tubes before. I have had a comination before. This hobby is all about synergy, and not about ideology.

KF

Can one hear silence?

cj PF-1 and cj MV-75a1....sounds good to me. Things were too mushy with a tube preamp in my price range way back when. I also use a Bryston 3B-ST.