I have both the BHK Signature preamp and the BHK300 mono blocks and I love the ability to change tubes on either of them. In the preamp I’ve tried 5-6 different tubes and have been using NOS, RCA clear tops for the last couple of months. On the amps, I have had NOS Mullard 7308’s in for about six months and am very happy with the sound.
Adding tube sound to my SS system
I have a question for the hive mind. I had the opportunity try a PS Audio BHK tube preamp in my system the other day (in between my LUMIN T2 and Luxman 509x bypassing the luxman preamp) and the vocals / midrange made my heart flutter and chills run up my spine. I heard life detail and nuance in the vocals that I didn’t with the Luxman preamp and sounded like the singer was in the room. But, it was lacking in soundstage, bass and so so recordings didn’t shine. The Luxman preamp made everything sound smoother and liquid but at the expense of some life in the midrange. I ultimately liked the sound without the BHK preamp better, But, that tube sound is intriguing and I’m looking for a way to add it into my system.
system is LUMIN T2->Luxman l509x->spendor D9.2
I keep the Luxman loudness on all the time. Maybe that says I like a fuller sound. i stream 99% of the time through Roon or airplay (tidal and my wife uses Spotify). The modern convenience of controlling volume from the phone is essential (this the LUMIN). Home theater runs through the HT bypass on the luxman. All kinds of music jazz, folk, rock, hip hop etc. simplicity has value over going fully separates. I’ve been trying to research streaming dacs that have a tube or streaming tube preamps but not really having any luck finding anything that fits the bill. Looking to upgrade the LUMIN as I love the aesthetic of the Luxman so it would be hard to part with but I’d do it if needed. Wondering if streamer to tube preamp to power amp is the only way to make it work. Budget is not too much more than my current gear and willing to buy used.
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I was running a Rogue RP-7 tube preamp into a highly-regarded Rogue tube power amp, the power amp replacing a SS amp driving my Fyne Audio F-702 speakers that were made in Scotland. I felt it resulted in degraded tonal qualities of instruments, reduced definition, and slightly reduced soundstage. I replaced the tube power amp—but kept the tube preamp—with a pair of Odyssey SS monobloc amps, and I have regained what I lost plus gained better imaging and depth and lateral dispersion of soundstage. This may be partly a result of the Odyssey amps having twice the output of the tube power amp, but the reversion to the previous qualities with a SS amp tells me that much of the improvement is from going back to solid state amps. I am very pleased with the results and suspect— on-scientifically—that it may have been a case of “too much of the good tube thing.” But, then, it really is all about how the music sounds. Simply my experience and perceptions. |
PS Audio BHK is a hybrid preamp it is not a tube preamp, @trentgordon |
@mike4597 +1: Tube amps have a weak link with their output transformers. Distortion and phase issues/frequency response are difficult to reduce/eliminate. |
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