2. amps-preamps
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Tube Preamp with Solid State Amp?

Greetings!

I’ve seen some folks using Tube Preamps with Solid State Am ps. I’m thinking of doing that with my system as part of an incremental change. I currently have a Parasound P5 preamp with a Parasound A21 driving Klipsch Cornwall 4’s. Will a decent / good Tube Preamp really make a difference in my sound? I enjoy what I have now but really want to experience Tubes in my system. Thanks!
128x128bigjohn9095
canibefrank
406 posts
 
I am using powered JBL LSR and AiPulse speakers via XLR and SMSL SU8 dac. Will the new Freya+ increase the soundstage and give me a more pleasing mids and highs...? The comboa sounds pretty good for the money... I just would like some majik..... next up will be Klipsch
bigkidz
3,397 posts
 
I'll repeat myself for the one hundredth time, get an old Counterpoint preamp SA-2000 and send it to me for upgrades.  Parts quality that I will install you won't find in anything recommended here.  I have repaired or modified most of them.  Think Audio Note resistors, Nichicon capacitors, V-Caps just to begin with.  Happy Listening
mickeyb
584 posts
 
To me a high powered class a  amp with a tube pre sounds best. I like Conrad Johnson pres. . Build quality is great and they sound oh so sweet. Run those with some high power 4ohm speakers and you can feel the music, even at low volume. Think Wilson sashas here. 
jkf011
292 posts
 
Been doing it for 20yrs since I bought a lightly used CJ PV10AR in '04. First with one NAD 214, then in '13 with two. Then in '18 I replaced my old Klipsch RF-35s with Maggie 1.7is  and one of the NADs failed so I replaced both with a Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 3. Then in '19 I added a couple Emotiva 10" subs. Very very fast, open highs, smooth mid and BIG punchy bass. A tube amp would just be too expensive for me. 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Tube Preamp and SS power amps. Really the best of both worlds.

A tube preamp, Tube and SS power amps for Bi amping even better.

A lower wattage tube power amp, for the mids and tweets, and 
class ds, AB (crown) (something quiet but powerful) power amp for the bass sections. They can be bi amped? if not easy to fix that too..

You'll be shi%#ng in tall cotton ( southern term)

All pretty inexpensive, but you can start with the Pre,,, then a little valve amp later those Cornwalls  will love you for it. TOP notch sound..

Choose a good Preamp...... Tone control with horns....... Macs and horns are made for each other... If someone tells you otherwise about TC... Use your own good judgment, and what your running.

Happy hunting..

Regards

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