2. amps-preamps
  3. 981501114

To tube or not to tube...

I'm interested in upgrading my preamp and have been considering going to a tubed preamp coupled with SS power amp. I hesitate because of the reliability factor. You see, I grew up in the era of tube television sets, so it was a periodic chore to unplug all the tubes from the TV and haul 'em down to the local drugstore's tube tester. We'd wind up replacing a handful of tubes, and then be amazed at how much better the picture and sound was. A year later the drill would repeat. What's the situation with tubed preamps? I see a lot of discussion about trying this brand of tube or the other... I'm wondering how much of that "improvement" is due simply to replacement of weak tubes with fresh ones. What kind of life can one expect from the tubes in a tubed preamp? How much does the sound deteriorate over time as the tubes wear out? Are tubed preamps intended only for those who want and like to fiddle with the innards of their equipment?
1439bhr
edle
235 posts
 
Tube equipments are the only way to produce music-like music. Tube equipments are like a high performance sport cars. It needs pamper and a lot of attention. But its pay big time when you treated it right!!! If I were you, I will use a tube power amp. too. It might change your audio life! By all mean go for the tube preamp. It is a good start.
In term of reliability, I'm using a tube power amp. which is from the year 1957!!! Finally, I would like to change the title of this thread to "To tube and not to ss..."
photon46
1,098 posts
 
As a newcomer to tube world, I can only offer a limited perspective on your query. FWIW, to answer to your last question first, I suspect many of us attracted to tubes do enjoy being involved with the innards of our equipment. Tubes offer you the chance to "tune" the sound more to your liking. There are indeed sonic differences between tubes that are attributable to things other than the performance decline aging brings about. Comparing the brand new RAM labs tubes in my preamp with NOS Amperex does reveal diferences. The differences, to my ears, are not of the magnitude some listeners claim to experience. While the NOS sounds better, the RAM labs tested Sovteks sound pretty good. Life expectancy of tubes varies from design to design. Many Audible Illusions Modulus owners say they retube every 6-9 months, as this design drives tubes hard. Others may only require retubing every few years. Listen to some equipment and then decide.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi 1439; tube pre-amps are definitely worth it, and except for tube replacement they are just as reliable as solid state. I use a Sonic Frontiers Line 2 pre-amp (six tubes), listen 3-5 hours a day, and have the pre-amp in standby the rest of the time. I've found that I need to re-tube about once a year. As the tubes age, eg near the end of life expectancy, the music quality gradually becomes "harder/brighter and more fatiguing". I experienced that after between 16 and 18 months of use, I then decided to re-tube every 12 months. BTW, I preferred the stock Sovtek 6922s (about $15. each) over an exotic NOS set, but preferences vary. I use this pre-amp with a McCormack DNA-2DX solid state amp and think the combination is great. Good Luck. Craig.
More to discover