noise thru tube pre??

Newbee, the only thing I disagreed with in your first post was the implication that microphonic tubes somehow always sound bad.

Enjoying the effect of a slightly microphonic tube is no different than rolling a Mullard for warmth or a Telefunken for detail. Every tube adds its own particular "signal enhancement". None of them comes with an accuracy meter.

I won't deny that microphonics aren't accurate. But like warm Mullards or super transparent CCAs, every tube adds it's sonic signature one way or another.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said, "Thats strictly my choice. Others can tune their system as they wish."

That's the real joy of tubes versus solid state, IMHO. Tubes offer so many options for one to tailor the sound of their system until they find the "accuracy" that sounds right to them.

Does it strike anyone else as odd that we (Audiophiles) expend great effort in selecting isolation equipment (brass cones vs aluminum cones, tennis balls vs. ball bearings, etc) to isolate a component such as a solid state amp or preamp, or CD player (or even a cable) which you can tap on as hard as you want without ever getting the slightest piff of sound through the speakers, but are willing to sit a pair of monoblocks with exposed tubes, which are commonly microphonic, right next to the speakers?

LOL, good point Honest1.

Honest1, LOL. Just too much. I'm going to avoid temptation just this once. No comment!!

Honest1, you nailed it, babe. I kept my 150lb/each Pass X-600s 6ft behind and towards the center of the two speakers. If I could have put them in an adjoining room without an excessive speaker cable run I probably would have been happier.

I’ve always looked at setups with the mono tube amps next to the speakers and shuddered. To the uninitiated in tube amps (me) it appears that one of the many bass drum whacks in the “Rite of Spring” could turn KT88s into interesting fireworks displays. I’ve been meditating a tube excursion in the near future and would love to read comments by present tube amp owners on this subject.

Regards,