@greg7 if you decide to try a tube preamp with your solid state amps, treat yourself to a nice one if you can. One piece that never gets rotated out is my triode 6SN7 based tube preamplifer. Works amazingly well and musical with SS or Tube amps.
Tube Vs. SS Preamps
Oddly in +25 yrs in the hobby, I’ve never really owned a tube preamp. Can you comment on what the differences are in general sonic terms? I want a really fatigue free sound with lots of body (I run class A and class AB solid state amps).
Do you find SS preamps to be fatiguing typically, more so on average than tube ones? Or is it simply the added bloom that's appealing with tube preamps?
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I use an MSB S-200 SS power amp, and a Herron Audio tube preamp; it's a great preamp, cause it looks like it's SS - no tubes sticking out anywhere and the sound is about as neutral as you can get with tubes; works very well with the MSB as that is a very uncolored amp.... I let the speakers supply the warmth I like.... |
@jjss49 perfectly worded my observations. @mulveling 's advice matches my experience. After using I number of 6922/6DJ8 and other "roller" preamps, I found more satisfaction with a 6H30-based design, used in many BAT & Audio Research models. Some may see a downside in no compatibility with all the legendary, exotic vintage tubes. I've overcome that by wearing the Amperex Bugle Boy logo on a tshirt while I listen to my 6H30s. Cheers, Spencer |
I like Macs most of them.. I love the older C11,20,22 or the MX110z they are all wonderful when restored or not, depends.. I really like some of the SS pres . C45, MX120, 121, and 150. I like my C2500 too, what a nice preamp.. Macs are simple to please. Use Telefunken valves in their preamps.. If you do work on the units stay away from yellow polly cap rebuilds.. They were built with PIO, rebuild with PIO.. LEAVE the Black Beauties.. Regards |
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