2. amps-preamps
  3. 174207-10803

Can one have too many tube components in a system?

Especially if one has sensitive speakers? For myself with ZU Omen defs, I have to keep an eye on the gain of the amps I choose since my BHK runs tubes. If gain is too high, tube hiss becomes an issue. However, I see people with tubed amp, tube pre, tubed phono pre, tubed dac......doesn't the tube his (just like tape hiss every time you copy a tape over and over) intensify with every component? Or to pull this off one needs less efficient speakers?

aberyclark
secretguy
1,718 posts
 

The tube system is in a basement bedroom and by the time the first album is finished, the room is comfy warm😄. 
 

I hear you. That's why I'm going back to SS.

wturkey's avatar
wturkey
776 posts
 

Welcome to Audiogon where everyone’s tube system is perfectly dead quiet……sans that Clark character. Lol

ebm
9,311 posts
 

Maybe 2 max.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,833 posts
 

I’ve 18 tubes in my three box phono-preamp chain and any barely-audible hiss is well worth the liquid black and dimensional sound. Add in another 10 tubes in the monoblocs and it’s tubes all the way. Second rig is tubes too. Admittedly, speakers are not efficient but are very transparent.

dinov's avatar
dinov
845 posts
 

Tube gear has been around a lot longer than ss. I’m not getting the concern here. If it’s about hiss and gain, that’s certainly not related to the amount of tubes you have in your system. So if you feel tubes are inferior in that respect, I disagree. 

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