Going Tubing


Greetings!

I would like to introduce some tubes into my two channel set up.

I currently have a solid-state preamp and a solid-state power amp. (And a separate, hybrid tube phono stage.)

I am wondering, conceptually, staying with separates, if it would be better to switch the preamp to a tube preamp, or if it’s better to change the power ramp to a tube power amp. With “better” in this case I mean would have bigger impact on, for a lack of a better description, “tube sound.”

(I realize there are other considerations, such as having enough power to drive my speakers, but here I’m talking about conceptually, which part of these two audio chain components would have the most impact on the sound if switching one of them from ss to tube.)

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xbimmerlover

Start on preamp first, Amp tubes need biasing their tubes if you end up buying non auto bias.

You will never know the whole story unless you go all tubes.

Therefore, consider the end game now.

Answer to your specific question: tube preamp now.

@ghdprentice captured it well in his comment

that said, the use of a tube power amp depends alot on the chosen speaker and its demands

to get the full dose of what tubes do to the sonic presentation, once one decides they like it, ideally the system is all tube

and now having said all of this, and having been a tube-o-phile for some 30 years, i do not have a single vacuum tube in my current system... LOL

There are some excellent intergrated (tubed) and that might be the way to go. $eriously. (You’ll need some serious bucks for all separates.)

Here are a few.,,,,

PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Integrated Amp.

Manely

Rodges High Fidelity (I have and have kept )

VAC

And a lot here on Agon

A friend has your speakers and uses the PS Audio M1200 mono blocks. 600w into 8ohms. He’s excited like an 11 year old. No pre for him as streamer/DAC goes directly to Amps. He reports low volume better too.