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Tube vs. SS Dilemma

Hi there Audiogon Community
Need some serious help and don’t know who to talk to but you guys. I have been upgrading my system for the past year and a half now, selling and buying stuff. First I went the tube route, bought an Atlas Magnum Amp, Cary SLP 03 Tube Preamp, was dreaming the liquidy tube dream, was amazed at the upgrade from an old and tired hybrid amp I had. Sources: estoteric DV50 for cd and vinyl via a Lenco TT and Ear Phono. Mainly listen to jazz, classic rock and some bits of classical.
But got a hold of a Mark Levinson Preamp, a 380 model and had a spare Krell 250a amp, hook the esoteric cd player to this second setup and was just blown away, I always thought that my heart would always be glowing with tubes or at least a tube/ss setup, but man am I enjoying the SS turn, the bass carácter of the Krell is addictive.
So my question is: What is happening? Am I just shocked “temporarily” by the ML/Krell combo? Should I just wait for a while and do a second and third shootout between setups? Or the fact that the ML/Krell combo is much better – in terms of the models I have vs. the tube models – part of the reasons that explain the differences and should look for better tube amp/preamp before seriously comparing the two?
As soon as I listened to the ML/Krell combo, my first thought was to keep upgrading my system the ss way, instead of the tube route, but before I make drastic changes want to hear from you guys’ experience. I don’t want to make this a tube vs. ss question, therefore I hope the details of the inquiry help steer away broad answers in that regard.
Should add the speakers I’m using with all these setups: GoldenEar triton 2’s. Thanks in advance. I always enjoy reading the forum, but now I had to ask the question before declaring this a case of mild audiophile schizophrenia.
Thanks.
128x128musicgeorge11
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,203 posts
 
I find the best SS and tube setups sound more alike than different to me. The end results/overall synergy of components working together in your room is all that matters.

If you like the SS sound, then it is possible that tubes may not do much for you. There is no rule that says tubes are always better, though some that like "tube sound" will lean that way.

I have heard the Goldenears but not extensively and not with any tube gear. On paper, they appear to be amenable to either tube or SS amplification, say 80 w/ch or so or more, depending on user preferences.

With a suitable amp in place for the GEs, then it might be worthwhile to experiment next with different pre-amps to see how each sounds. Tube pre-amp might have something to offer over many SS pre-amps. I would not use a tube pre-amp however unless amp input impedance is 30K ohm or higher in order to help keep distortion low and sound more defined. Different DACs, ICs, etc. might also be tried as additional tweaks if needed.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,203 posts
 
My guess also is that GOldenears are not designed mainly to be run off a tube amp, though on paper I would expect that many larger, better tube amps might do quite well. A good SS amp is probably a safer bet in general with those. Tha might explain what you are hearing.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,203 posts
 
Also I have not seen impedance curve metrics for those Goldenears, but, from what I read and having heard them, I would be willing to bet that they might be a challenge for many amps, cettainly many tube, even some SS, to drive well. It would be worthwhile to find out more about the impedance curve if measured anywhere somehow if available. That would be telling!

Regarding, tube versus SS pre-amp, I love my ARC tube pre-amp, but again there is certainly no rule that says tubes always outperform or even just always sound better than SS. You've tried some things and compared so just trust your ears. Maybe you have not quite found the right tube pre-amp yet. Or maybe what you have is just fine, tubes or not. Trust your ears, not the hype and spin.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,203 posts
 
I glanced at impedance/phase measurements for the GEs from Stereophile review. Issues present appear to be in teh midrange more than bass. IT appears relatively tube friendly, but different amps might sound much different in midrange, depending. That is consistent with what I heard. GEs were running of NAD amp I believe, and midrange and overall tonal balance accordingly sounded significantly off to me, compared to smaller Aon 3 Ges for example running off similar amp. So in case of Ge Tritons, I think "best" amp could be either SS or tube, depending. Your ears will be the judge.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
After looking at the Stereophile review, I suspect that this speaker is better being on the four ohm tap than the 8 ohm tap of many tube amps.

Musicgeorge11, it is also obvious that you had some bad tubes in your equipment- refer to your comment about channel balance. If the tubes are bad all bets are off! Any tube amp or preamp will play center fill information just as well as any solid state- often better. But not if you have bad tubes! I prefer tubes to transistors generally, but if the tubes are shot I'll take the transistor amp 'till the tubes are fixed.

Speaker/amp matching need not be such a 'dark art', see
http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Paradigms_in_Amplifier_Design.php for more information.
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