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Biamping with a tube and SS combo

I was watching a youtube video by Paul @ PS Audio in which he was discussing the differences between bi-wiring and bi-amping. An interesting point he made was that some folks like to use a bi-amping configuration where a tube amp is driving the tweeters, whereas SS is managing the woofers. I've read a lot about tube pre's working in conjunction with SS amps, but never really thought about this particular combination. Sounds intriguing. So inquiring minds (and mine as well) want to learn a bit more from those who might have travelled down this road ...

How would you compare the bi-amping scenario I described above with the more common tube pre + SS amp combo? If you have compared both, which one sounded better to you?

If one were to go down this path, what aspects one has to keep in mind? E.g. things like impedance, gain settings, etc,

If you have one source only, which one do you connect it to? And subsequently, how do you connect the tube and SS (same as the pre/amp combo?) ?

I would love to hear from folks who have actually tried it, and not just throw a bunch of measurement graphs at us. Also, let's not turn this into a bi-amping vs bi-wiring comparison or tutorial. Thank you.


128x128arafiq
knotscott's avatar
knotscott
953 posts
 
Depending on where the crossover point is, there can still be quite a bit of midrange info coming through woofer, which I prefer to hear thru tubes.  I'm doing vertical bi-amping with two tube amps, but am using tubes that are adept at tighter deeper bass for the woofers, and different tubes with better mids and highs for the top end.  Then I run a powered SS subwoofer from 40hz down.  
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
I too have tried many of these configurations and have speakers with quite a bit of midrange information (even a crossover around 150hz goes really far up if its a first order slope).  Unfortunately, I always lost too much coherency for it to be worth it. The different amps muddied the woofer to midrange crossover and the music fell apart. *This was even true when the amps were identical and fed with the same (split) rca input.* Even with perfect gain matching and identical circuits, just using independent circuits for the woofer and midrange/tweeter created enough differences that I eventually went back to a single amp per channel. I do, however strongly believe in monoblocks with separate amps and power supplies for each channel. And I do have separate amps for my subs.

Obviously plenty of people love their biamped systems, but just be aware that YMMV. 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
I've seen Bi-wiring make a difference when there was a cable size issue, I've seen good single runs with good jumpers, work well also.

Bi-amping, I personally think it's the best of both worlds.
I use valves 300hz and up.
I use SS 300hz and down.  300 hz is pretty high, do a tone burst from your phone. It's pretty high..

Depends on your crossover, if it's a 2 way system, it's usually to high, to make a "GOOD" difference. 

Happy Holiday

Regards
arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,684 posts
 
Thanks everyone for such informative posts. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't aware of this specific configuration and was intrigued. Appreciate the education. Right now, I'm enjoying my Luxman 590axii integrated amplifier, but I'm thinking down the line I would like to add a tube preamp in conjunction with the Luxman and see how it affects the sound. I don't think I will pursue the setup I mentioned in my original post. I'm not as savvy or knowledgeable as some of you folks. It's much more likely that I might end up making matters worse.
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
I have a tube preamp feeding sonically transparent solid state amplifiers and enjoy the combination a great deal. Perhaps I'm biased because of that, but I believe you've made a good plan.  Plus, preamps often run tubes more conservatively than power amps, so it's likely to reduce your tube costs to put them in that location.

There are plenty of relevant threads to review, just search for tube preamps recommendations and you'll see an overwhelming number. My personal impression after investigation was to focus on 6sn7-based designs (e.g., users seem to universally praise Supratek and Don Sachs pres). Although less popular for manufacturers due to microphonics and noise issues, there are also a lot of dht adherents out there as well. I'm about to get one to try against my idht 6sn7 pre.

Anyway, good luck with the search, it should keep you busy for a while...
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