Tube Vs. SS Preamps

I run VTA SP-13 preamp which runs an Aikido line stage.  It was intended to drive a high input impedance tube amp.  A Dynaco ST-70 had an imput impedance of 330k ohms.   But I run my preamp into a solid-state active crossover, which has an input impedance of only 10k ohms.  That was a major problem when I first got it.

I went back to the designer and told him about the input impedance I had to deal with and he immediately knew the problem and the fix.   The coupling caps on the preamp output were at .33 uf.  He sent me some 1.5 uf caps to add on, which fixed the problem.

After living with super low distortion SS products from Exposure, Benchmark, and Bel Canto, I actually find that tube gear leads to earlier onset of fatigue, even when the tube gear is of relatively low distortion.

You are asking the wrong question.  What tubes offer that SS cannot compete with is space.  You hear a soundstage where vocals and instruments have their own space.

Except this just isn’t the case when concerning reference quality SS components. And much, if not most, entry-level tube gear fails to produce that sense of “space.” 

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.

makes sense ralph, thank you

wishing you (and all others here) a happy holidays!

I think that the classic era tube preamps definitely coloured the music albeit in a way many liked, but most modern tube preamps tend to be uncoloured in that way.  In the CJ line up, the clouration was obvious in the old PV9  but is absent in the Premier 14 I now use.