2. amps-preamps
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Do tubes matter beyond gain stage on preamp?

High end preamps such as VAC, CJ, VTL only use a couple tubes on gain stage - impacts harmonics of course.  Vs BAT and ARC who use 8.

Tube dealers confide that tubes beyond gain stage dont meaningfully impact sound, saying its what people want so its done.  









emergingsoul
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,860 posts
 
I swapped out a neon voltage reference tube and it had a profound impact on the sound. So, yes, all tubes influence the sound.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Everything matters.
ghdprentice
7,124 posts
 
@ebm 

+1
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 
“Everything matters”

True that! 
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,628 posts
 
"Tube dealers confide that tubes beyond gain stage dont meaningfully impact sound, saying its what people want so its done."

Please post details of the "tube dealers" who told you this.

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