Let's forget about being politically correct


I thought this would catch the attention of some of you. I have for the past 10 years used a SS amp and tube preamp. This was the prevailing wisdom with alot of audiophiles in the 90's and even today. I am look for a change in my amp/preamp, who out there is using a tube amp with a ss pre? How does it sound? What combinations have you tried?
bobheinatz
Albert: My comments did not apply to those that are highly experienced with tube gear. Those that are "bottleheads" would not be swayed by what i posted, nor is it my intent to try to "sway" anybody. Obviously, i wouldn't be telling them anything that they didn't already know nor was i trying to belittle or attack the air, spaciousness, depth, liquidity, natural harmonic structure, warmth, body, etc... that tubes "typically" bring with them to a system. It was aimed towards those that have never worked with tubes and / or had the experience of finding out what happens when a tube shorts out, opens up internally, becomes microphonic, becomes gaseous, tube sockets become oxidized, what to do when you have 3 good tubes left out of a matched quartet, etc... and need to be made aware that such things do occur.

Hopefully, one can tell the difference in my posts between sharing technical information / real world experiences and out-right "slagging".

Outside of all of that, i hope that you realize that i consider you to be one of the greatest assets to this forum and have nothing but respect for your opinions and experience, both as an audiophile and as a gentleman. I have no doubt in my mind that your selection of equipment and system as a whole are phenomenally good. The fact that it is tube based is neither here nor there to me, as you are the one that has to live with the results of those decisions. As such, i'm sure that you find the benefits to far outweigh any drawbacks involved.

Asa: I think that we are on the same page / share some similiar thoughts but some of our ideas simply aren't being communicated to each other efficiently. I'm sure that we could easily resolve our lack of communications if we were enjoying a cocktail or two while fine music played in the background : )

Other than that, i hope everyone enjoys the system that they have and continues to learn / experiment with new and interesting ideas pertaining to the reproduction of music. Whether you are a "bottlehead" or SS fan, prefer digital or analogue or are somewhere in between all of the above, i'm glad that we can openly discuss different ideas / personal opinions / experiences. Best wishes to all and good listening... Sean
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sean i agree with you 100%.your mistake was taking on the bottle heads, avery vocal group in audio. what you took soooo long to say was tube based systems require a lot of maintenance. the length of your posts prompted albertporters response. we all know albertporter has a big time kickass system, that lucky dog, and doesn't mind the maintenance and cost for the great sound he gets, but albertporter has speaker cable that cost more than some folk's systems. i have always felt that tube lovers have a hobby within a hobby, but if it brings them closer to the music, god bless. sean as to not understanding asa ,i guess thats two of us. asa ,you be talkin some bad stuff with that "zeno's paradox" thang. just love the music no matter how it's delivered.
Asa, your 4-11 post should be required reading as it defines what is sought by those that are serious about being transported to the recording venue.....This is the tough part and where most systems and components fail be they tube or solid state....Easier and much cheaper to get there with tubes....
To really obtain the "tube glow" people speak of...one really needs classic tube power...such as Conrad Johnson,etc...a tube pre just doesnt add enough "color" in my estimation (if that is what one desires)...also...as far as the "black background" arguement...on paper...since SS has lower distortion figures...they would have the edge...but again...can anyone really hear THD differences...doubtful...however...part of the "rounded" sound of tubes is due to their "soft" distortion...which is why the clip in such a smooth manner...
Thanks, Bob, that was nice of you to say.

Yes, Sean, not far away at all. Wish I could take you up on that cocktail.

Yes, phase corrrect, but what is drawn to paper - cognitive analyzation - can not encompass the experience of dimension. There is not piece of technology that can do that, at least so far. I agree that it is very worthwhile to use tools and conduct empiric experiments to help us see more - to point towards the truth of what is experienced trans-cognitively - but the pointing is not the experience itself, merely an approximation. If you think that the pointing is the experience - in your attachment to scientific means, called scientific materialism, or scientism, in various guises - then you will only see the pointing, only the THD on the paper, and only get the approximation, but many times believe, mistakenly, that it is the whole experience; empirically speaking, it is a performative error in methodology that limits the results of the injunctive itself. Which, interestingly, is "bad" science itself...

I look at the science, but usually in an integrated fashion, ie not just looking at one measure, and factor that in to my experience, but the "paper" is never determitive.