Why do tubed preamps image better than SS?

Atmasphere...Lower feedback in tube amps is usually because the darn thing becomes an oscilator if you increase it any more! (That's my experience). Also, are you forgetting the heavy feedback around the output transformer represented by the taps that are connected to output tube grids. (Of course this doesn't apply to triodes).

I compared the McIntosh C2200 tube-preamp, which by all accounts is a very fine preamp, to McIntosh's C42 and C200 preamp. The C200 was in all regards better than the tube-C2200, including dynamics, imaging and bass control. I do not think it makes sense any longer to say that this or that kind of amp by definition is or does sth better. It depends on the design, and in fact there probably never were so many excellent SS preamps and amps you could take for tube-preamps - and never so many tube amps that offer dynamic sound, as well

Eldartford-

Staying OT, the thread is about preamps not amplifiers...

But since you brought it up, the fact that certain transformer coupled amplifiers oscillate with high feedback is of no particular concern to me- but I'm guessing that you knew that :)

Atmasphere...
I will stay on thread.
I will stay on thread.
I will stay on thread.
I will stay on thread.
I will stay on thread.
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Anything is possible as long as it comes with price tag. For the $$, majority of tube gear will have better bang for the buck performance over SS