2. amps-preamps
  3. 146969-75423

tube pre amp or tube amp

I go through a phase every few years where I choose to "upgrade" my system or make a change just for the sake of doing so. My current system sounds beautiful but today I am curious
I am running an AudioResearch CD9 source through an AudioResearch REF5SE pre amp followed by VAC phi300i AMP
I was considering inserting a high end solid state piece into the system such as a PASS XA60.8 mono blocks instead of VAC. 
I was considering changing out the Audio Research pre amp to a LAMM pre amp (hybrid)
If I would like to interject a solid state component  into my system, would it be more advantageous for that piece to be the AMP or the PRE AMP?
wahoo101488
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drrsutliff
858 posts
 
Previously I had a VAC Renaissance 3 and a VAC PA100 upgraded to a phi front end.  I first changed the power amp to an Ayre VX-5/20 and then upgraded the Pre to the current VAC Renaissance 5. Really enjoying this combination.
4425
861 posts
 
i’m a little different in that i have found that a great solid state preamp driving a great tube amp is very special. whether right or wrong going this way adds tube magic as the last link. 
the are many ss preamps that fit the bill and often have better features. fwiw
blindjim
3,092 posts
 

Hi

I thihnk the person who said, glass pre plus SS power has a certain something is on to something there.


SS power does develop better bass than will tubes.


I've been in the process of discovering myself. for some eyars now, and when I get the notion I need to change something I really enjoy 'as is', somethings up besides sound quality. as said, change for the sake of change points elsewhere. not at the system.


the second astute point made was about the apparent sole source, the CDP.


I've been all about the source being the key to any outfit. the better or deeper into those waters one can get, the better.


transports just do not age well or last forever. along the way the resolution slowly declines and one gets used to that sound as it dies. replacing it holds a whole new bag of worms waiting for it to break in!! I went thru that with a Sony XA 777 SCDP.


given the orig Q, I would say....


If at all possible put some $$$ into a DAC which gives you options with more sources and formats, and an upgrade or update path from the maker. 


Or... 


don't trade or sell off something to buy another something given you enjoy what you have now. simply wait a tad longer and 'add' a new piece to the existing rig.


having on hand a second preamp, or amp of differgin topologies and or brands is always an outstanding option.


if a DAC is not the top choice, I'd go in for an SS amp. great bass does so much for the things residing above it, its nearly a 'must' have thing for me to dig a rig.


of course, there are other areas where one can pitch money and as such, improve or re-arrange one's SQ. Isolation. cabling. racks. Room acoustics.


all that said, I do dig where this is coming from completely.


I finally had put together the best sounding rig I'd ever owned and then sold it off just to try an all tube affair. that one turned out just as good but in a different sort of manner. 


for me to be able to have no further arguments on which this, or what that, I need two separate rigs. one all tube, and something else.


... but that's just me.


good luck


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,803 posts
 

SS power does develop better bass than will tubes.


This is not universal!

That depends a lot on the relationship that the speaker has with the amplifier. If the speaker is easy for the amp to drive, a tube amp may well make better bass. An example is the Sound Lab ESL, which has a high impedance in the bass- and solid state amps have trouble making power into that high impedance, where tube amps don't.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I strongly agree with 4425 and Atmasphere.  I have found my audio Nirvana using mono bloc tube power amps but with a tube pre as well.  It's a very simple pre using only 2 X 6SN7s for amplification and SS rectification. I find I just don't get the 3d effect that tubes provide using SS amplification.
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