2. amps-preamps
  3. 160034-139155

Adding a SS amp as a 2nd amp for my tube rig has been a plus

I'm really glad to have purchased a solid state amp, used, to go with my tube gear. Just the perfect solution to when I grab a moment or two to listen — that hour between work and dinner, for example. There's not enough time to warm up the the tube amps, but I turn on the tube preamp, turn on the solid state amp, and I'm in business.

I spent about 5:1 for the tube stuff (including the better tubes) relative to the SS amp, but I think spending that small extra portion on a slightly better tube rig wouldn't have gotten me as much.

Sonically, the tube stuff is superior — BUT I get a slightly different angle with the ss gear. For example, some rock sounds better with the solid state. Also nice to have a solid state when I swap different speakers in to try out.

Convenience-wise, I get more listening in to have that ss as a second amp. Most of the time, I just listen to tube, but when I can't make listening an "event", I still find myself listening.

Yes -- some additional costs (extra interconnect, extra speaker cables) but I am not the sort who breaks the bank on those items, so pretty negligible added cost.

For what it's worth. Anyone else done this?
128x128hilde45
mickeyb
574 posts
 
Have a krell class A amp and a Conrad Johnson tube pre. The sound improves after a half hour. The krell runs hot as it’s a true pure class A. I find the sound to be magical. I love to roll the tubes on the pre to hear the subtle differences between nos 12au7’s. I can’t stand taking the damn cover off the Conrad though. I’ll have to come up with a solution to that. I would love to try an Ayre pre amp someday . I’ve heard wonderful things regarding their sound. 
pioneerhip's avatar
pioneerhip
43 posts
 
I do the same thing. The long listening session requires planning. Short bursts of enjoyment get the Pass Labs M2. Adding a solid state piece has really added something I was missing. 
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
@hilde45 a while back I tried three different inexpensive ss amps (CJ,STA 200,Audiolab)along with my tubed dac and pre but never cared for the sound.I did like the convenience though.I'm sure there are other amps that would make a better combination but it would take a lot of trial and error,for me anyway.One of these days maybe I'll talk my brother into lending me his Parasound JC2 for a day.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@jtcf 
Yes, synergy is the x factor here. I can just imagine, though, that if someone figured out a combination with a good preamp, great tube, and decent SS amp, they might really equal a lot of other combinations. Just musing out loud, not really thinking this would be easy or practical.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,211 posts
 
Several things have kept me from dabbling in tube amp waters in recent years:

1) Relatively small and simple Class D amps (modern technology) have delivered all the goods for me. Don’t know if there is a Class A/B SS amp that could.....have not found one to date though I have heard a few elsewhere in recent years that might .
2) None of my current preferred speakers are designed with tube amps in mind
3) I listen to all kinds of music including modern pop/rock (loud recordings and tube amps do not always mix well) sometimes at higher SPL and tube amp needed for this would be larger with more tubes to deal with and probably higher TCO over time.

I do use a tube pre-amp with my Class D amps but when time comes for a change I will probably try to loose the tubes there too. Audio Research sp16 tube pre-amp-> Bel Canto Ref1000m Class D. I do not like the extra cost and maintenance often involved with tube gear, especially larger beefier tube amps with many tubes.

I do think sometime I will try out a separate rig ideally with easy load higher efficiency speakers mainly because I am always looking to try different things and would likely dabble with a small tube amp TBD there.
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