Introducing Tubes?

I think a tubed pre-amp is the best place start. But before you go there best ask yourself exactly what are you trying to get. All tube pre-amps don't sound the same. Some are warm and some are bright, most have a more liquid sound. Don't underestimate the effect that a good tube amp has on the sound of a system, but thats for another day (after you have tried a good tubed CDP). Upscale Audio advertises an Ah Joeb tubed CDP that cost less than $1000 that gets a lot of good comments. By the way, good speakers!

My question is, "do you like your system or do YOU feel there is something missing or otherwise not right with the way it reproduces music?? If the answer is yes, can you isolate the component responsible? Rather than just add stuff willy-nilly(I always wanted to write that) first find out if there is a problem, what the problem is and then try and identify the source. Components don't "add" anything. There is the information recorded on the source material such as a cd or an album. That information can be retrieved by your components but it can't be "added" to. The information that's there is the information that's there. The only thing tubes will do is add a type of distortion that I guess your listeners think would nicely counteract soem other type of distortion they are hearing and don't like.

Nick

Improbability, FWIW everything in the chain adds distortion to some extent! Some tubes can cover-up some of the distortion added by CD systems and other SS stuff! Take that!!!! And that!!!!! :-)

Ok. -
Bluebull Re: voltages and impedences. Do the numbers have to match? Or be in a certain 'range'?
Mtbrider - Thanks for the recommendations!
Jond - I do 99% of my 2 channel listening alone :-) So this is more for me. Tube sound is just a curiosity i've always had. HT is with the family which is why the HT stuff needs to stay. Didn't you mention the Syrah before?
Newbee - I would like to hear a detailed, liquid and airy sound but still with good bass.
Improbabilitydrive - No, i don't feel like anything is missing in my HT system but i'm always wondering what 2 channel playback would be like with tubes.

Any further recommendations on pre amps and cdp's. Looks like 1K isn't gonna do it. :-)

thanks
Paul

Everone forgot the Anthem Cd-1, a suprb choice on the used market.