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.)
Get a tube amp that allows tube rolling as it adds a lot of fun to the process (There's a Dennis Had Firebottle on Ebay if you have efficient speakers), and you cant go wrong with the amazing bargain that is a Freya + (class A in Stereophile). I own the original version of that preamp, and it's amazingly good. |
@bimmerlover Do note: Tubes in a Audio System are not a device one can Power On and forget about. My Valve EE, has always encouraged the discipline for not leaving the Audio System unattended for long periods of time. The Idea being one stays within the audio set up room for the bulk of the Power On time and even has a revisit not too long after Power Off. Having said that I have a all Valve Power Amp's in the System for over 30 Years and today the system is inclusive of Valve Phon' and DAC. I am vigilant when it comes to being present when the system is on. It is this same requirement that put my wife off using the audio system, even though she owns 50%+ of the Albums. |
