For tube sound, which is more important: preamp or power amp?

I have always loved the “tube sound” - warmth, midrange, soundstage. Through the years (since about 1975), I have owned many tube and solid state amps and preamps, in various combinations. Presently, I have a tube amp and a solid state preamp. But like most of you, I am thinking of making changes, again. Not to cloud the discussion, the specific brands are not important. I also listen to acoustic music, females vocals, love mini monitors, EL34s, NOS tubes, and don’t care that much about bass. So you can see that my taste fits the tube sound very well. But I have had systems that are too warm, not enough dynamics or details, and fat in the low end, too.

okay, now to the discussion. To produce the tube sound, which is more important: the preamp or the power amp? Let’s talk in general, and (if possible? May not be) not tied to one specific piece/brand/model of equipment. I know there are exceptions to any general rule. Not sure if it makes a difference to your comments, but I have no phono and am running line stage only.

As an attempt to prevent the conversation as going in a big tangent, let’s assume equality of price/quality. i.e. not comparing a $10k power amps contribution to a system to that of a $1k preamp. Let’s also assume that the amp (tube or solid state) can drive the speakers just fine, such that compatibility does not limit the decision. And ignore mono blocks versus stereo amp differences.

two follow ons: I have the perception that preamps give you more bang for the buck - meaning that it takes less money to get a great tube preamp compared to a great tube amp. Agree/disagree? And second, I have never owned a tube dac or CD player, and will assume that tubes in either of these is less critical than in a preamp or power amp. Agree/disagree?

i am interested in your thoughts.

Bill

meiatflask11-11-2017 10:49pm

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almarg Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,670 posts 11-13-2017 at 02:21pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Charles, thank you for your characteristically sage commentary. Inna 11-13-2017 What is the rationale to have solid state phono or/and line preamp and tube amp ? ... I can't think of any top amp designer who would do this BS. Not many roads lead to Rome, just a few, don't fool yourselves. Inna, obviously there are countless audiophiles who use tube power amps with fine results, and obviously there are countless audiophiles who use solid state preamps with fine results. And typically a solid state preamp will have no problems driving a tube power amp. So it seems to me that the question should not be what is the rationale for combining the two, it should be what is the rationale for describing such a pairing as "BS." Regards, -- Al
toddverrone Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 840 posts 11-13-2017 at 02:52pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Indeed! I'm a proponent of a tube pre/class D amp setup, but that's because of the power needs of my speakers. There's no reason the inverse couldn't sound beautiful. Willem - I'm not sure a plug-in could recreate a tube component with anything other than a cursory listen.
james1969 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 347 posts 11-13-2017 at 03:04pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @toddverrone What kind of speakers are you using?
charles1dad Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 10,250 posts 11-13-2017 at 03:23pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Al, Thanks for your kind words. I have the same thoughts regarding inna. It's perfectly fine if he doesn't want to go a particular route with certain components. However it's the dogmatic stance that this approach is BS, how so? What informs this conclusion?:That people have done SS preamps/tube amps very effectively is counter to a BS result. Charles
mapman Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 22,520 posts 11-13-2017 at 04:35pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Does not matter. What does matter is that the tube amp be matched with speakers that the tube amp is capable of driving properly. Also what matters is that if a tube preamp is used (higher output impedance) look for a power amp with higher input impedance as well to better mate with the tube pre-amp. Results will be better dynamics and lower distortion, always a good thing. Results may always sound "good". "good" is totally subjective. But by following these basic guidelines you can better cut to the chase and avoid discovering down the road that properly mated components work better together and hence almost always sound better as well.