Tube Pre/ Class D Amp - Who has done it?


Open forum for those who have actually tried this.  Really curious to know who has been happy, or maybe unhappy, with a tube preamp driving a Class D amplifier?

Of course, tube pre with a solid state amp is a classic pairing for hard to drive speakers, especially ESL's.   This is a little different.   I'm really curious to know what pres and Class D amps have had great synergy.

erik_squires

Really happy to see all the on-topic replies here. Especially happy that this discussion has stayed focused on the union of tube and Class D as opposed to a free-for-all discussion about Class D vs whatever you like better.

Those discussions are already plentiful in A’gon.

I ask this question in part because I'm about to go fully active in my main system and wanted to know what kinds of combinations had great synergy, but  also because I've always suspected that a juicy tube pre with a solid performing Class D would be heavenly.

I used to run Orchard Audio Ultra DMC Stereo & Monoblocks with a BAT VK50-SE for many years. But recently, I've moved onto the Black Ice Aries/DAC/Preamp driving the Ultra's. Sometimes I'll direct drive the Ultras with my PS Audio DirectStream DAC Sr. (MK1). It's fun when you have options.

The Orchard Amps are a "straight wire with gain" philosophy which will then tell you how good or bad your source is. 

I run an Allnic L-7000 pre with Atma Class D’s and don’t miss the heat, but @marco1 has me curious to see if I need to test the Atma tubed power amps to see if I missed something.