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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?

greg7
avanti1960
1,480 posts
 

running a nice class a amp with a very nice 6sn7 based tube preamp with a tube rectifier and have never enjoyed music more having tried every other option. 

biggest impact is the projection of the sound into the space of the room as if it were a floating 3 dimensional landscape.  

also a smoothness and naturalness to the sound with impeccable openness and transparency.  

never will i be without.  

vinowino
53 posts
 

What is "fatigue free" ?

runwell
279 posts
 

Fatigue free, in my opinion , is talking of your ears, not the body.

Your body definitely will fatigue after several hours listening, however, your ear  is still enjoying  and want to have more time.that is fatigue free.

wolf_garcia
6,704 posts
 

Get a Schiit Freya + and have the ability to switch between tubes and passive...great sounding sophisticated preamp for el cheapo.

hedwigstheme
140 posts
 

Make sure that any tube preamp that you are considering has an output impedance compatible with your amplifiers.

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