Taks are the best. Maybe even beyond NOS WEs.
Tube preamp with SS amp is a traditional and frequently fine combination.
Most tube preamps smooth out most SS 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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@vinowino Its a lack of audible higher ordered harmonics (which, if audible, are perceived by the ear as harshness and brightness) and also low intermodulation distortion; intermodulations also contribute to harshness and brightness. Tubes are still being made because so many solid state products made over the last 60 years are harsh and bright. |
ralph, if you don't mind a somewhat related sidebar question - i am curious to know what you believe to be the source/reason/technical underpinning behind top level tube gear being able to generally (exceptions exist of course) provide a greater sense of air and vast imaging (size, depth in particular) - compared to similarly high level solid state gear?
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I know what you mean. IMO it has to do with the distortion signature- neither a tube or solid state preamp will be making any significant distortion but its a simple fact that distortion is inescapable. Its been shown that the lower ordered harmonics serve two functions both of which are helpful. The first is that if they are there at sufficient amplitude, they can mask higher ordered harmonics that otherwise are perceived as brightness. The 2nd and more important function is that somehow the 2nd and 3rd harmonic are helpful to the ear in some way in helping it to perceive soundstage width and depth. You might be easily convinced that this is some sort of effect rather than being neutral, but if you listen to a direct microphone feed and compare that to the actual musical performance you find that the sound stage is simply being presented in a more natural fashion. I think more research could be done in this area, but I'm not holding my breath for it to happen. But it is a documented phenomena. |
Freya + will give you both. If you want tubes turn the tube buffer on if you don’t want tubes turn them off. I feel tubes are vital when streaming. Some or most digital streaming that is not run through tubes feels like razor blades to my ears, listener fatigue can set in fast. I have rolled tubes to find the sound I like too. |
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