2. analog
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tubes and analog

I just "upgraded" from a Mac SS integrated to a Prima luna dialogue 2 tube amp. The reason that I changed amps was that i assumed that the tube amp would be a better match for my Zu Druid speakers. The amp change was a big improvment for listening through my CDP....but not so when listening to my Rega P9. I had to switch to my spare SS phono stage (Graham slee) to get it to sound right. I was using a tube phono (AES) with my Mac. In Short, my tube amp with SS phono stage is not really an upgrade from my Mac with Tube phono stage. My question is.....should i consider a further upgrade to a better tube phono pre or is it simply that a change from SS to Tube amp is more "pronounced" in digital playback?
csmithbarc
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,608 posts
 
Rauliruegas and Opus111, there is nothing misleading about my statement at all and it is very easy to demonstrate at any level of cost. Raul in particular, your statement does not make a lot of sense. I have to assume that you do not know our equipment at all and certainly have not heard it.
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rauliruegas
12,823 posts
 
Dear Atmasphere: Absolutely wrong: I heard it in three different audio systems.

Please don't go a head with: +++++ " there is nothing misleading about my statement at all and it is very easy to demonstrate at any level of cost ... " +++++.

I'm not against the tube technology but it is totally unfair to make the kind of statements that you do, that kind of opinion does not help to the people only confuse them because today there are many examples of SS technology that in several ways and overall are better than the best tube technology : and like you say " is very easy to demonstrate ".

Please stay calm about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>but it is totally unfair to make the kind of statements<<

The truth isn't always fair.

Regards and enjoy the tubes.
aoliviero
269 posts
 
I have listened to Raul's SS preamp/phono and it generated more detail and bass retrieval than my tubed CAT. I think the differences are more in the area of tonality. Whether right or wrong, by distortion or not, tubes can sometimes provide a more pleasureable tone.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,608 posts
 
I am plenty calm Raul, despite your attempts otherwise. And FWIW, my statements are plenty 'fair'... (whatever *that* means :)

I have yet to see any of the solid state that you refer to, having been doing CES and the like since 1989 I've been exposed to a lot of it, and a lot of it has been quite expensive. I also do not have to rely on opinion.

Many transistor units have higher distortion at lower output levels where low level detail exists. Tubes OTOH make vanishingly low distortion at lower levels- so low level detail is not obscured by distortion. This is so easy to demonstrate at almost any cost level that your statement would seem to strain credulity.
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