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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
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 

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

hedwigstheme
134 posts
 

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

richopp
760 posts
 

Well, let's see.  The REVERED Marantz tube pre-amp was followed by the REVERED Audio Research tube pre-amp, that in its day, was said to be the best pre-amp ever produced.

Since then, they have improved it over and over.

Evidently, they know what they are doing and my suggestion is to TRY ONE IN YOUR ROOM and see if it fits your system.  YOU many not like it, but it seems that everyone from the Audio press to many customers think there is something there.

OR, they could all be 'wrong' and lying.  One way to find out, I guess...

Cheers!

rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 

Tube rectified,regulated 6sn7 tube pre,with class A amps is a wonderful combination.  To my ears,sounds great.  Absolutely no listening fatigue.  

fbgbill's avatar
fbgbill
302 posts
 

When I decided to get really invested, I bought a demo McIntosh C2600 tube preamp and matched it to a pair of MC611 mono blocks. Could not be more pleased with the results. FWIW

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