How do you add color?

In hindsight, perhaps the choice of the term ’color’ was a wrong one to start with. The term might imply some sort of artificial sweetness or making the sound unnatural. That was not what I was aiming for. I started to write my response but then I read @hilde45 ’s last message. He pretty much summed up my thoughts, albeit, in a vastly eloquent manner :) I wholeheartedly agree with everything he said.

My intent was to discuss how to shape the sound signature to something you enjoy but without taking away from the intrinsic nature of the original recording. This does not imply bad synergy or other weaknesses in the chain. I’m sure this is not a novel idea. There’s a reason many audiophiles combine SS amps with tube preamps. or use a hybrid amp, and are happy with the results. Obviously there is more than one way to skin the cat. I never understood why some audiophiles are so dogmatic (my way is the only right way) about these things. Relax, it’s a hobby that’s supposed to make you happy -- whichever path you choose to take.

Early on in my audio journey, I too was enamored by tweaking the sound by introducing a tube dac in the chain. I tried a couple of tube dacs but overtime I concluded that it was not always the best strategy, at least for me. Nowadays, I prefer my DAC to pass on the information as accurately as possible without altering the signal. But that’s just my preference. I’m sure there are many on this forum who are digging the sound of a tube dac as we speak. That being said, I never tried higher end tube dacs from, say, Lampizator’s upper models. I might try this route in the future.

For now, I’m thinking of trying a tube preamp with my SS amp. I want to point out that I’m perfectly happy, in fact more than happy, with how my system sounds right now. It has all the tonality, texture, presence, etc. that I had always desired. So the urge to try a tube preamp is purely an experiment in the realm of ’what-if’. Just to push the envelope a bit more. It might not work out in the end. I guess there’s only one way to find out.

@roxy54

I think that speakers or electronics that portray timbre and texture well are perceived by the mind as "colorful."

Well said! It took me many years and lots of changes to reach the same conclusion. Like everyone else, I was more into 'detail' early on in my journey. But that, as impressive at it is, gets boring after a while. Timbre, texture, tonality is what helps you get emotionally connected with your music.

@arafiq Thanks for a nice thread. Enjoying it!

For now, I’m thinking of trying a tube preamp with my SS amp.

I really enjoy going back and forth from non-tube to tube preamp with my Pass XA-25. At first I enjoyed a preamp with an 12AT7 tube input (2 tubes). But once I tried a 6SN7 tube, I sold my first preamp without any regrets. If there's a good match between preamp and amp, you may hear what I did: a really inviting, smooth, more spacious soundstage and a midrange that really draws you in. Seductive is the word. Of course, there are many differences between systems, but those who love the 6SN7 used these types of descriptions and I found them apropos even in my room, with my speakers, etc. 

Call it what you will, but certain components can "mold" a sound that can be more enjoyable to some people. and less enjoyable to others.

Tube pre-amps, specific pre-amp tubes, R2R ladder DACs, cables, and speakers are all going to "mold" the sound. Some people are more sensitive to sibilance or brightness (I am one of those people) so I much prefer copper cables over silver, R2R ladder DACs over chipsets and Delta Sigma, Amperex and Mullard NOS tubes versus new production, and more laid back speakers (Buchardt Audio S400 MKII, Tannoy, Fyne Audio, vintage Infinity RS Kappa 7, Thiel, and Joseph Audio (though others may disagree there).

The sound I'm after is something I can listen to all day, provides detail without brightness, has great imaging and soundstage, is fun, and provides good immediacy without hitting me over the head with it. The journey continues

@vthokie83 +1 with your description of what you prefer (so well said) - this is extremely close to my sound preferences, but I’ve never been good at articulating. 

Audiogon Friend Request sent!!!